The Book of Orchids: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species from around the World 9780226224664

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THE BOOK OF ORCHIDS

PROfo'F.SSOR MARK CHASE is a senior research scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He is

also an adjunct professor at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of London and at the School of Plant Biology at the University of Western Australia, and a fellow of the Linnean Society and the Royal Society. He co-edited Genera Orchidacearum and has contributed to more than 500 publications on plant science. DR. MAARTEN CHRISTE!\HUSZ is a botanist-consultant who has worked for the Finnish Museum

of Natural History in Helsinki, the Natural History Museum (London) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Maarten was initiator of the journal Phytotaxa and is deputy editor of the Botanical journal oftlzeLinnean Society. He has written about a hundred scientific and popular publications. TOM MIRENDA is the Orchid Collection Specialist at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington,

D.C. He frequently lectures on orchid ecology and conservation in th e US and abroad, and is a columnist for Orchids, the magazine of the American Orchid Society.

The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637 © The Tvy Press Li mited 20 17 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reprodu ced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews. Fo r more information, co ntact the University of Chicago Press, 1427 E. 60th St., Chicago, Tl 60637. Published 2017. Prin ted in China 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17

12 3 4 5

TSBN- 13: 978-0-226-22452-7 (cloth) ISBN-13: 978-0-226-22466-4 (e-book) DOJ: I0.7280/ chicago/9780226224664 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Chase, Ma rk W., 1951- au thor. I Ch ristenhusz, Maarten

.f. M., 1976-author. I Mirenda, Tom, 1957- author. l Ivy Press.

Title: The book of orchids: a life-size guide ro six hundred species from around the world I Mark Chase, Maarten Christenhusz and Tom Mirenda. Description: Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2017. I "This book was conceived, designed, and produced by l vy Press." Identifiers: LCCN 2016039433 1 ISBN 9780226224527 (cloth : alk. paper) I ISBN 9780226224664(e-book) Subjects: LCSH: Orchids. Classification: LCC QK495.064 C359 20 17 I DDC 584/.4dc23 LC record available at https: I /lccn.loc.gov/2016039433 The views expressed in this work are those of the authors and do not necessarily reAect those of the publisher or the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

This book was conceived, designed, and produced by Ivy Press Ovest House, 58 West Street Brighton, BN I 2RA United Kingdom www.quartoknows.com Publisher SUSAN KELLY Creati ve Director MICHAEL WHITEHEAD Editorial Director TOI'vl KITCH Art Director WAYNE BLADES Commissioning Editor STEPI IAN IE EVANS Senior Project Editor jOAN NA BENTLEY Copy-editor JOHN ANDREWS Designers JANEMCKENNA&GINNYZEA L Ill ustrator DAVID ANSTEY Picture Researcher AL ISONSTEVENS Assistant Editor JENNY CAJVIPBELL JACKET IMAGES lvfaarten Christenhusz: Orclzis militaris Norbert Dank: Gomesa.forbesii Lourens G robler: Acineta superba Eric Hunt: Anguloa virginalis, Oncidiumnobile, Prosthechea mariae Malcolm M Manners: Sacoilalanceolata Herbert Starker: Brownleea coerulea Swiss Orchid Foundation/ G Meyer: Aganisia cyanea; /R Parsons: Calamlze siebofdii; /Rogier Van Vugt: Dendrobium cftrysotoxum, En~psis biloba Miguel Vieira: Clzforaea magellanica LTTHOCASE IMAG ES Eric Hunt: Acan.tltepltippium mana'nianum, OncUiium luq£ Jeremy Storey: Pyrorchis forrestii

CONTENTS Preface 6

Introduction

8

Orchid evolution 12 Pollination 14 Symbiotic relationships 18 Threats to wild orchids 20 Orchidelirium 26

The orchids 30 APOSTASIOIDEAE, VANILLOIDEAE & CYPRIPEDIOIDEAE 32 ORCHIDOIDEAE 58 EPIDENDROIDEAE 192

Appendices 638 Glossary 640 Classification ojthe Orchidaceae 642 Resources 648 Index ofcomrrwn names 650 Index ofrcientijic names 653 Acknowledgments 656

RIGHT One of many orchid genera that have evolved a pseudocopulatory pollination syndrome, with petals that sexua lly excite certa in male bees, Maxil/aria egertonianum bloom s continuously over about seven m onths each year.

6

PREFACE I Orchids have given me an exceptional amount of pleasure over the years. For decades, it has been my mission to share that joy. Taking part in the creation of this book is the culmination of that desire to nurture and spread appreciation for what I believe to be the most extraordinary family of plants. Unquestionably lovely, orchids are far beyond being just beautiful. They are seemingly endless in their diversity, perpetually compelling, and astonishingly well adapted to a mind-boggling array of ecological niches and evolutionary partners. A geologically old family, members of the Orchidaceae have colonized the far reaches of our planet save those most inhospitable: extreme poles, high mountain peaks, the most desolate deserts, and, of course, the deep waters of our lakes, rivers, and oceans. Having evolved to occur in such a wide variety of habitats, as well as perfecting the ability to interact with and exploit myriad creatures as symbionts, orchids are the ideal plant family to teach us about biodiversity and illustrate its importance. The remarkable structures and colors ofeach and every orchid species convey a story about their ecology, evolution, and survival strategy. Once analyzed and unlocked, these stories give us powerful insight into the processes that have shaped our world for millennia and, hopefully, inspire us to conserve that which took millennia to create. Masters of deception and manipulation, orchids are famous for lying and cheating their way to their many evolutionary successes. Exploring the manner in which they co-opt pre-existing behaviors of a bewildering cohort of pollinators oflilliputian dimensions is not only outstandingly instructive, but is just plain fun to contemplate. Even the venerable Charles Darwin referred to orchids as "Splendid Sport" and maintained a passion

PREFACE

LEFT A wonderfully petite bifoliate species, Cattleya aclandiae is endemic to a small area of plateaus bordering the Paraguacu River in Bahia, Brazil.

7

for them throughout his lifetime. It is undeniable that orchids have gripped the psyches of many humans. They have even, in recent years, become the most sold and cultivated type ofornamental plant. Their beauty alone does not explain this phenomenon. Many theories exist as to why orchids are so alluring to us. It is thought that their zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) flower structure influences us to see orchid flowers similarly to the way we see faces, attributing to them some "personality" in addition to their beauty. Some find the lip of certain orchids to be reminiscent of human anatomical parts that we normally keep covered, lending them a subliminal or feral attraction. Others simply find the combination of color, form, grace, and fragrance most appealing, yet not all orchids have traditionally attractive versions of these attributes. Some of the most compelling orchids are rank-smelling, muddy in coloration, and borne on clunky plants. Nothing adequately explains why people become so wildly obsessive about orchids. Ultimately, they are simply provocative creatures that manage to elicit strong reactions from pollinator and person alike. In this ambitious book, we invite you to journey with us around the world and see orchids for the marvels of nature they truly are. It is our hope that the images and stories within will inspire appreciation and stewardship as well as give great pleasure to all, young and old, who choose to embark on the rewarding study of orchidology. Tom Mirenda

RIGHT 8u/bophyl/um lobbii, a widespread species in the Asian tropics and a member of one of the largest orch id genera.

8

INTRODUCTION I The orchid family, Orchidaceae, embraces 26,000 species in 749 genera and is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, or angiosperms-a broad group that includes herbs, trees, shrubs, and vines. The other large family is that of the daisies and lettuce, Asteraceae. Estimates of family size vary, depending on how the number of species is calculated, and which is the larger of the two is a hotly debated topic among botanists. Many people have a vague idea of what an orchid is, but it is likely that most would not recognize all the species included in this book as orchids. So, what is an orchid? Orchids are divided into five subfamilies, Apostasioideae, Vanilloideae, Cypripedioideae, Epidendroideae, and Orchidoideae. This subdivision is based on DNA studies and morphology and reflects major differences in vegetative features and especially in the way orchid flowers are constructed. The five subfamilies have been recognized in the past as separate families by some botanists based on these distinctive characteristics, and the only characteristic they all share is that of how orchid embryos develop, from a structure called a protocorm, which is a small ball of cells without roots, stems, or leaves. To develop into a mature orchid plant, a protocorm has to be successfully infected by a fungus, from which the developing orchid seedling obtains initially all the food (in the form of sugars) and minerals it needs to grow. As they start their life, orchids can be thought of as parasites on fungi. However, most but not all orchids as adults go on to develop roots and leaves, and produce their own food through photosynthesis. At a much later stage the continuing relationship of an orchid plant with the fungus

INTRODUCTION

can become mutually beneficial. In nature, the orchid exchanges sugars produced by its photosynthesis for minerals found more effectively by the fungus. In cultivation, the need of an orchid protocorm for a fungal partner can be replaced by manufactured sources of food and minerals, and many orchids are grown commercially using germination media with added sugars and minerals. THE COLUMN

The other major trait that most botanists use to recognize an orchid is a structure called the gynostemium, or column, produced by the fusion of male (stamen) and female (stigma) parts in the flower. All but one of the 9

five subfamilies share this feature. The exception is the subfamily Apostasioideae, consisting of only 14 species in two genera, Apostasia and

Neuwiedia, which all lack complete fusion of the male and female parts. I n subfamily Cypripedioideae- which consists of five genera,

Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, and Selenipedium, and 169 species, known as the slipper orchids- there are two stamens (the pollen-bearing structure of a flower) , whereas only one occurs in the other three subfamilies- Vanilloideae (14 genera and 247 species), Orchidoideae (200 genera and around 3,630 species), and Epidendroideae (535 genera and around 22,000 species). Their single stamen is fused to three fused stigmas with a single female receptive region.

BELOW Mexican species Lae/ia gouldiana, labeled to show the flora I parts that make up a typica l orch id flower.

THE PARTS OF AN ORCHID FLOWER

- - - - - - - - - dorsal sepal

petal

column _ _ __

lip (orlabellum)

INT ROD UCTI ON

The characteristically fused structure of the column, shared by 99.95 percent of all orchids, is responsible for the remarkable event where a pollinator, such as a bee, wasp, or moth, is maneuvered into doing exactly what the orchid wants. This allows the pollen, usually in the form of thousands of grains bound into a solid ball, or pollinium, to be placed on the 10

animal in a precise manner and then, due to the close proximity of the stigma and anther (the part of the stamen holding the pollen), be precisely removed from that spot. Pollination in orchids is, therefore, ABOVE Epidendrum

a highly exact sequence of events, leading to fertilization of the thousands

wallisii, a species from Central and South America that is polli nated by butterflies searchi ng for nectar.

of developing orchid embryos in the carpel, or ovary, with just a single visit of a pollinator, provided that it has previously visited another flower of that same orchid species to pick up pollinia. THE LIP

In most orchids the female receptive surface, or stigma, is a cavity on the side of the column that faces the other highly distinctive orchid structure: a modified petal (one of three) that is termed the labellum, or lip. This serves variously as a landing platform, a flag to attract the pollinator, orplaying an important part in various forms of deceit that orchids use to fool pollinators- a mimic of something the pollinator wants, such as nectar, pollen, a mate, or a place to lay its eggs. There are many orchids that appear not to have a lip. A good example is the genus Thelymitra from Australia, where the member species are called sun orchids. Rather than a lip, the flowers of these plants have three sepals, which are initially a set of protective leaflike structures (that in many orchids also become colorful) and three similar petals (also colorfulleaflike organs). Such similarity of all three petals, though, is the exception among orchids, most of which develop a highly modified lip.

INTRODUCTION

Although it has long been known that orchids can control the appearance of the lip in isolation from the other showy parts of their flowers -the two remaining petals and three sepals-it was not clear until recently how the lip was controlled from a genetic or developmental perspective. In nearly all other plants that have been studied in this regard, the three petals are controlled by the same floral genes, and by and large they all three do the same thing and look the same. T hink, for example, of a lily or a tulip, in which the three petals are identical. In orchids, there has been a duplication of the floral genes, and one of the duplicated copies is expressed just in the lip, making it possible for this petal-the lip-to look different and be involved in pollinator manipulation apart from the other two petals, II

in which the gene is not expressed. T his more complicated set of genetic controls has made the flowers of orchids among the most complex in the plant world and undoubtedly is a major reason why their flowers are adapted for pollination by such a large range of animals. D ISTINGUISHING FEAT URES The combination ofcolumn, lip, and pollinia- the first unique to orchids, the others not unique but unusual among plants- makes it possible for botanists to recognize plants as orchids despite their capacity to look decidedly un-orchidlike. In biological terms, this amalgam of features has enabled orchids to become evolutionarily explosive, leading to the 26,000 species alive today. Species numbers in the largest genera, Epidendrum, Bulhophyllum,

Dendrohium, andLepanthes, run into the thousands. No book could include all of them, so we have concentrated on illustrating 600 species, carefully chosen to display the wide range of orchid diversity and to cover all areas of the globe where the plants are found. They are presented in the five subfamilies, appearing alphabetically by Latin name within tribes (and subtribes where appropriate).

BELOW Epidendrum medusae grows high in the Andes and is poll inated by moths attracted by its elaborate fringed lip.

RIGHT: Orchids can

have very limited geographical distribution;

Ceratocentron fesselii, for example, occurs only in the mountains of Luzon Island, Phi lippines.

ORCHID EVOLUTION

12

I Orchids evolved during the Late Cretaceous period, roughly 76 to 105 million years ago. This is much earlier than botanists once thought and makes Orchidaceae one of the 15 oldest angiosperm families, of which there are 416 in total. Few orchid fossils older than 20 to 30 million years have been found, and it was thought that orchids evolved relatively recently compared to many other groups of flowering plants. That they have a poor fossil record is not surprising because most orchids are herbs, which generally do not fossilize well, and their highly modified pollinia are difficult to recognize in the fossil record. DINOSAUR DEPENDENCE

All five orchid subfamilies evolved before the end of the Cretaceous period, which means that orchids and dinosaurs overlapped. Considering the great diversity of orchid pollinators, we can only wonder if orchids managed to

Apostasioideae

Cypripedioideae

Vanilloideae

ORCHID EVOLUT ION

adapt to pollination by dinosaurs before the latter became extinct 65 million years ago. Vertebrates in general are uncommon orchid pollinators, and nearly all of those recorded are bird~irect descendants of the dinosaurs. There were many small species of dinosaurs, so it is possible that some visited flowers to collect nectar and, like many animals today, were deceived into pollinating orchids. Any orchids adapted to dinosaur pollination would have become extinct with their pollinator, and so are now lost to us. DISTRIBUTION The discovery that orchids were much older than previously thought was a result of the widespread sequencing of DNA d1at only became possible 13

in the mid-1990s. This greater age makes a good deal of sense when it comes to understanding the geographic distribution of orchids. I twas long assumed that orchids could have reached their current worldwide distribution relatively recently by long-distance dispersal of their small, almost microscopic seeds. Due to their dependence for food and minerals on the fungi with which they associate, orchids do not include food reserves or minerals in their seeds, unlike, for example, a bean in which the stored food and minerals make up the bulk of its much larger seed. Orchid seeds are, therefore, light and easily distributed by the wind, which theoretically could propel them over long distances. However, the longer an orchid seed remains aloft, the more the small embryo dries out, making most orchid seeds inviable before they can travel great distances. So, most orchid species have a limited distribution, even as constrained as a single mountain. Orchids have instead achieved their worldwide distribution by passively riding the continents, which at the time the plants evolved were much closer than they are today. LEFT TO RIGHT Species

from each subfamily: Neuwiedia veratrifolia, Cypripedium kentuckiense, Vanilla aphyl/a, Platanthera ciliaris, Warczewiczel/a marginata.

Orchidoideae

Epidendroideae

RIGHT Bulbophyllum

frostii fro m Vietnam is pollinated by fl ies thinking food is present but then becoming trapped in its pouch·li ke lip. The only way out is past the reproductive organs of the orchid.

POLLINATION

14

I Orchids are well known for elaborate pollination mechanisms that have evolved to achieve the mating of different plants, or cross-fertilization. Flowers of most plants, including orchids, contain organs of both sexes, but self-pollination is as generally undesirable in plants as it is in animals. Most plants, and orchids in particular, have evolved methods, often exceedingly complicated, to avoid self-pollination happening. This process ABOVE Charles

Darwi n was fascinated by orchids and at his hom e in Kent, England, studied tropica l species in addition to native species.

has long fascinated scientists, including Charles Darwin, who studied pollination of orchids in detail and was so enthralled by the plants that his first book after publication of On the Origin ofSpecies (1859) was entirely dedicated to orchids. The short title, Fertili{ation ofOrchids, gave little hint of its main hypothesis, unlike its full and explanatory title, On the Various

Contrivances By Which British and Foreign Orchids Are Fertili{ed By Insects, and On the Good Effects oflntercrossing ( 1862). Among the orchids studied by D arwin were a large number of tropical species provided by the then Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Sir Joseph D. Hooker. POLLINATOR DECEPTION Most orchids produce pollen in two to six tight bundles, called pollinia. These are often attached to ancillary structures that together are called a pollinarium, which attaches the pollinia to the pollinator's body, usually in a position that makes it difficult for the animal to remove them. Most orchids look as if they contain a reward for pollinators but few actually offer it. Some even produce long nectar spurs that are devoid of nectar. Rates of visitation by pollinating insects to such deceptive flowers are, understandably, low. Insects learn quickly to avoid these rewardless

flowers, but they make the mistake often enough for it to be effective in a system in which a single visit can result in deposition of thousands of pollen grains, each fertilizing one of the thousands of orchid ovules produced by each flower. A rare mistake by a deceived pollinator is enough for the orchid to produce large numbers of seeds. Darwin himself came to the conclusion that outcrossing, or pollination between unrelated plants, is so advantageous for most orchids that deceit and corresponding low rates of visitation are the general rule. Apparently, setting seeds in only a few flowers but guaranteeing that these are of high quality (due to crossfertilization involving flowers on different plants) makes deceit a successful strategy. In this case, the cheating orchids have prospered, despite the fact

AeovE Zetenkoa onusta, a species from Peru and Ecuador, is visited by bees that are fooled into thinking a reward is present.

that they so badly treat the insects upon which they depend. There is no mutual benefit for the orchid and its pollinators as there is in pollination systems with rewarding plants; the deceiving orchid could go extinct and the animal would only experience a slight improvement in its condition due to fewer floral visits without a reward. However, if the animal pollinating a deceitful orchid species becomes extinct, then the orchid also disappears or develops a method by which to self-pollinate its flowers, which has been known to evolve when an orchid species reaches an island ·without its pollinator accompanying it.

SEED PRODUCTION The combination of delivery of whole pollinaria on a single visit and fertilization of a correspondingly large number of ovules in the ovary means that from a single pollinator visit a massive number of seeds can be produced . That many orchids, such as some species of Dendrobium, Epidendrum, and Oncidium, bear large inflorescences with hundreds of flowers may seem like an extreme waste of energy, but production of mature ovules ready for fertilization is delayed until pollination takes place, thus reducing energy inputs associated with these large numbers of flowers.

BELOW Dendrobium aphyllum, an Asian species that produces a large inflorescence of non-rewarding flowers, on ly a few of which ever produce seeds.

15

PO LL IN AT ION

MIMICRY AND DECEIT Deceit involving mimicry of other local plants that produce a reward for their pollinator is another common habit for orchids. Although not offering a reward itself, the orchid benefits from pollinators that fail to distinguish between a cheating orchid and the rewarding species, and so the former obtains a degree of pollinator service that drops dramatically if the latter is not present. In other cases, a deceitful orchid species is not mimicking a single reward-offering species in the immediate neighborhood, but rather is using a suite of the traits associated by pollinators with the presence of a reward. These include fragrance, color, "nectar guides" to direct a 16

pollinator to the center of the flower, and a nectarless cavity or spur of the correct shape and size to suggest that nectar is present. A quick look at the species illustrated on this page demonstrates many ofthese features in what is termed "general" or "non-specific" deceit. I n many groups of orchids, a much more specific type of deceit, involving sexual attraction, has evolved. Darwin was unaware of this phenomenon, although he speculated on what might be happening with native British bee and fly orchids (genus Ophrys). The details would probably have shocked him and many other botanists of that time. It is thought that mimicry of the female of a species ofbee, wasp, or fly begins as some other more general type ofdeceit and subsequently becomes more complicated and specific. For example, the orchid Anacamptispapilionacea appears not to be mimicking any specific nectar-producing species in its RIGHT Cyrtochi/um aureum, a rewardless

species from the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, attracts pollinators by appearing like several rewardoffering flowers among which it grows.

POLLINATION

LEFT Central American Chysis tricostata offers no rewa rd but nonetheless attracts enough bees to achieve pollination and successful production of seeds.

17

habitat and is instead just a general reward-flower mimic. However, there are more males than females among the insects it attracts, so it appears that some sort of sexual attraction is operating, which could lead to further change on the part of the orchid to enhance this aspect of the deceit. Many orchids using visual sexual mimicry also produce floral fragrances that are identical to the sex pheromones produced by the female of the insect species to attract a male. This at first sounds wholly preposterous: how can a flower evolve to produce something so alien to a plant as an animal sex pheromone? H owever, once it became known how the biochemical pathways operate by which such animal hormones are produced, it also became clear that plants share these same general pathways and often produce minor amounts of such compounds as part of their general bouquet of scents. Thus, the assembly of a highly specific sexual pheromone starts out with production of small amounts of similar compounds that become predominant when an increased presence in the mixture generates higher rates of male visitation, such as that observed in A. papilionacea. When combined with visual cues, such fragrance compounds reinforce the" message" being sent to male insects, and sexual mimicry is the result. Orchids in many distantly related groups have independently evolved this sexual mimicry syndrome, which, now that we know the genetic and biochemical details, is not as surprising as it first appeared.

BELOW Anacamptis papilionacea, a widespread southern European species, exhibits a m ixed syndrome of deceit pol lination and attracts more male than female bees.

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

18

I Orchids have a symbiotic relationship with soil fungi that enables germination of their seeds and sustains them in early phases of their development, when they are unable to be photosynthetic and make their own food. These fungi are so-called "wood-rot fungi" that break down dead wood in the soil and form masses of fungal tissue, known as pelotons, inside the cells of the orchid embryo. The exchange that occurs in the early stages of germination is entirely one-way in favor of the orchid, and it is BELOW A species

from northern South America, Angutoa virginalis offers floral fragrance com pounds as rewa rds to its pollinating bees.

not clear why the fungi participate in this process. There is no obvious benefit to the fungal partner; the embryonic orchid prospers, but there are only costs for the fungus. Once the orchid seedling forms its own leaves, then sugars that are produced by the orchid are exchanged for minerals from the fungus, ·which is much better at retrieving minerals from the soil than the plants. However, some orchids continue throughout their life to be a drain on the food reserves of their fungal partner.

FUNGAL PARTNER SWAP Some ground orchids are known to switch fungal partners as they grow older and associate instead with "ectomychorrhizal" fungi, which regularly exchange minerals for sugars with forest trees. Orchids associating with ectomychorrhizal fungi have been found to contain sugars produced by the trees, the sugars recognized as distinct from those produced by the orchids as they leave a clear chemical fingerprint

SYMBIOTI C RELATI ONSHIP S

created by the fungus as they pass through it. These orchids abandon the wood-rot fungi that helped them germinate, without ever giving those fungi a reward for this service, and then switch to a fungal relationship that provides them with sugar produced by the trees in their habitat. We do not yet know how orchids manage these complicated relationships nor why the fungi involved should participate in such a decidedly onesided relationship. FUNGAL RELIANCE 19

A number of ground orchids carry the parasitic relationship one step further and forego ever carrying out photosynthesis- a phenomenon termed "holomycotrophy" or, more literally, "totally fungus eating." These orchids, such as the Bird's Nest Orchid

(Neottia nidus-ayis) of Eurasia, also switch to an ectomycorrhizal fungus as described above and obtain all their sugar indirectly from the neighboring trees. The underground orchids from Australia, genus

Rhizanthella, not only produce none of their own food but also avoid raising their flowers above the soil surface. Unsurprisingly, the subterranean pollinator of

Rhizanthella species is unknown. Holomycotrophy is not confined among plants to orchids-for example, some members of the rhododendron and blueberry family, Ericaceae, form similar parasitic relationships with ectomycorrhizal fungi. All holomycotrophic plants, including orchids, that get their food entirely from fungi have in the past been classified as "saprophytes," meaning plants that live off decomposing material in the soil. This, however, is not an appropriate term because such plants are fungal parasites and not directly living off decaying material. Moreover, the food these orchids are stealing comes not from the fungi involved with rotting of wood in the soil but rather from fungi that are living in symbiosis with nearby forest trees.

TOP The in florescence of the underground orchid from sou thwestern Australia, Rhizanthella gardneri, causes a crack in the soi I by which its pollinator reaches it.

ABOVE Neottia nidusavis stea Is its food and m inerals from nearby trees via a f ungal partner that is exchanging m inerals for sugars with the trees.

THREATS TO WILD ORCHIDS

20

I CONSERVATION Plant conservation has long been the poor relation of animal conservation. It is much easier to get the public's attention if the plea for money involves the so-called "charismatic megafauna" such as elephants, tigers, pandas, rhinoceros, and cheetahs. Few plants have the same potential, but orchids come close. In a horticultural context, orchids grab the attention of the public, with many thousands drawn to orchid exhibitions. Orchid conservation has had a few successes. For example, the Yellow Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium calceolus, has been the focus of a long-term restoration project funded by English Nature, the conservation arm of the United Kingdom Government. There are now flowering plants in several RIGHT Cypripedium ca/ceolus was reduced to a single plant in the wild in the UK and has been the subject of successful reintroduction efforts.

T HREATS TO WILD ORCH IDS

wild areas that were reintroduced as cultivated seedlings a decade ago. So far, none of these plants has produced seeds, but conservation is a slow process, even at its speediest. It takes a long time to overcome the problems created by our forebears, just as it will take a long time for our children to overcome the damage caused by the present generation. MEETING HORTICULTURAL DEMAND Other efforts to restore seedlings produced in cultivation to d1eir natural habitats have failed dismally. 21

Poachers removed a tropical Asian slipper orchid species, the spectacular Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, within months of it being replanted in forest reserves on Mount Kinabalu, in Sabah state, Malaysia- a UN World H eritage Site. For many showy orchid species, collection for the horticultural trade is a major threat, one that has proven almost impossible to surmount. The outcomes for the two lady's slipper species mentioned above were entirely different, but largely because the sites for C. calceolus were kept

ABOVE When small

adu lt plants of Paphiopedilum rothschi/dianum were reintroduced to its native Malaysian habitat they were quickly removed by orch id thieves.

completely secret and guarded 24 hours a day while the plants were in flower. Also, horticultural demand for plants of Cypripedium is minimal as they have a partly justifiable reputation for being difficult to cultivate, in contrast to the high demand for the easily cultivated P. rothschildianum. LEFT Three of the four plants on display at this orch id exhibition are species rather than hybrids, illustrating the horticultural appeal of orchid species.

THREATS TO WILO ORCHIOS

RIGHT Forest destruction fo r agricu lture, mining and human habitation is the major threat to orchid populations rather than collection for horticulture.

22

Relative to the number of orchid species in the world, those that are threatened by unsustainable co llection for horticulture are a small percentage. For the great majority of orchid species, there is so little demand that concerns over their extinction for this reason can be discarded. T here is legislation in place--the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora ( CITES)- that has sought to control the unsustainable harvest of many species, mostly animals, but also of many plants, including all o rchid species. For those species that are horticulturally desirable, the C ITES provisions have not prevented the commercial exploitation ofwild-collected plants, such asP. rothschildianum, and have to be considered a failure. The greatest threats to orchid species RIGHT Orchids such as Dendrobium nobile are collected in huge numbers from several countries to supply the tradi tional medicine trade in Ch ina and India.

T HREATS TO WILD ORCH IDS

in many countries come, in fact, from conversion of their natural habitats for agriculture, mining, and human habitation, about which the CITES regulations can do nothing. The only orchids that have been formally and extensively assessed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) are the slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae). HUMAN CONSUMPTION Another major threat is posed by the use of many orchid species as food and medicine. Salep is a kind of starch made from the tubers of many terrestrial orchid species in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, including members of d1e genera Anacamptis, Orchis, and Oplays; it is used

23

to make a dessert or a beverage. The tubers are collected unsustainably from the wild, and in many areas of Turkey all terrestrial orchid species are becoming rare as a result. Making a bad situation worse, orchid tubers are now being collected in many of the surrounding countries where salep is not consumed to supply the demand in those where it is. In several East African countries, including Zambia, a bread called chikanda or African polony is made from peanuts and the pounded tubers of ground orchids- mostly, but not always, of the genera Habenaria,

Disa, Satyrium, and Brachycorythis. Like salep, the bread is increasing in popularity, leading to many areas being stripped of all orchids and collection shifting to nearby countries. In East Asia, use of Dendrobium species in traditional Chinese medicine is causing local extinction. As these wild populations collapse due to Orchis italica is harvested to produce salep, a ki nd of starch.

FAR LEFT:

LEFT: The tubers

of Brachycorythis angolensis are ground and used to m ake chikanda, a kind of bread popu lar in East Africa.

THREATS TO WILO ORCHI OS

RIGHT AND BELOW

Vani lla seed pods are fermented and then dried to prod uce the commercial flavoring van illa.

24

due to unsustainable collection, plants are collected in neighboring countries to supply the burgeoning demand. In Europe, chemical extracts ofseveral orchid species are added to shampoos and cosmetics. Although the containers claim that this is "sustainably harvested," there is no proof that any ground orchids are capable of being cultivated in quantities large enough to support this trade. None of the above uses of orchids as food and medicine is being regulated by C ITES, which was not designed to control such practices. Our advice is not to purchase any products that contain orchids, regardless of what the labels on these products might say. There is plenty ofevidence that collection of these orchids is unsustainable and will result in at least local extinction of many species. VANILLA By far the most important orchid species economically is Vanilla planifolia, or vanilla, originally from Mexico and now widely cultivated in the tropics. Away from the plant's natural range and pollinators, the flowers are handpollinated to produce pods, with the nearly mature seed capsules, which contain the flavoring vanillin, fermented to produce vanilla on a commercial scale in areas such as Madagascar and Reunion. Tahitian Vanilla (a hybrid, V.

X

tahitensis) and West Indian Vanilla (V. pompona)

are minor crops elsewhere. In Brazil and Paraguay, the orchid Leptotes

bicolor is grown for its vanillin-rich seedpods. These orchids are propagated specifically for these purposes, and so this use is sustainable. We can continue eating ice cream made with real vanilla without feeling guilty.

T HREATS TO WILD ORCH IDS

LEFT An

orchid greenhouse in the Netherlands in which thousands of artificially prod uced Pha/aenopsis hybrids are grown for sale as pot plants.

25

OTHER USES OF ORCHIDS • The perfume industry extracts scents from many orchids such as

Dendrobium moniliforme and Cattley a trianae. • Some orchid flowers are used to flavor drinks. In Reunion, the species

jumellea fragrans, found only on that island, flavors one of the rums known locally as rhum arrange, which in turn now threatens the plant with extinction. • In India, some species of Dendrobium are so abundant that they are used as cattle fodder. • Species of Gastrodia (non-photosynthetic or holomycotrophic ground orchids) are widely employed in China and other Asian countries as traditional herbal medicine. • Native Australian species of Gastrodia have been eaten as a source of starch by Aboriginal Australians. ORCHID S IN THE HOME Ultimately, the biggest use of orchids is in horticulture, as hugely popular ornamental houseplants and cut flowers, with hybrids of

Cattleya, Cymbidium, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, and Vanda the most widely grown. There are currently more than 100,000 cultivars (mostly hybrids) in the trade, many of them not officially named. Hybrid seedlings are shipped in flasks containing thousands of plants from China and Japan to theN etherlands and the United States, where they are quickly grown to flowering size in greenhouses and sold to supermarkets and garden centers.

BELOW Hybrids of many orchid groups are produced for sale in grocery and other stores, but those of Phalaenopsis are the most popular.

RIGHT Bletia purpurea,

widespread in the American tropics, was the first tropica I orchid know n in Eu rope.

26

ORCHIDELIRIUM I The combination of column, lip, and pollinia have made it possible for orchid flowers to use pollinators from a wider range of animals than any other group of plants. The resulting diversity of form, size, shape, and color has provided the orchid hybridizer with an artist's palette full of amazing possibilities. The tropical orchid species that first started to appear in Europe, however, engendered great interest but no thought of hybridization, as no one at that time knew how to hybridize them or how to grow orchids from seed. EARLY ARRIVALS IN THE WEST The first recorded non-native"exotic" orchid in ·western Europe was Bletia

purpurea, sent to England from the Bahamas in 1731. Soon thereafter, plants of the genus Vanilla were also introduced into English greenhouses, but these and other early introductions from the tropics were treated as heatloving plants and kept in ridiculously hot conditions, where they soon perished. By 1794, 15 tropical orchid species were being grown more or less successfully at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, almost all of them from the West Indies. It had taken nearly 65 years to figure out that orchids were not heat lovers, but, once this was realized, the era of their successful cultivation in Europe was underway. EAST ASIAN TRADITIONS Beyond Europe, the Chinese had been successfully cultivating orchids since at least the time of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-CE 220), when Chinese nobility were growing plants collected from the wild in their

ORCHID EL I Rl U M

private gardens. There are earlier references to "Ian" (the modern Chinese word for orchid) in Chinese literature, but it may have b een used simply for any fragrant plant, including species of the orchid genus Cy mbidium. It was not until the Tang Dynasty (CE 618- 907) that orchids gained popularity among the common people, and books started to appear that covered all aspects of their cultivation, including quality of plants, types of orchids, and care and watering. Given the interest of the Chinese in cultural 27

aspects of orchid growing, it is surprising that nothing was ever written by them about growing orchids from seed. For the Chinese, propagation was confined solely to the division oflarge plants into several smaller ones. EARLIEST H YBRIDS N ot too long after tropical orchids began to appear in Europe, the first orchid hybrid emerged, raised from seed in 1853 and produced by crossing two species of Calanthe-

C. masuca and C. furcata.

The matter ofhow to get the peculiarly small seeds t o germina te was no t understood , but b y sprinkling the seeds on the pots of the parent plants germination was

hybrid was produced in 1863, although this and the first trigeneric orchid

TOP Cymbidium ensifolium has been cu ltivated for cen turies in China, although no production from seed has been recorded there until the twentieth century.

hybrid, grown in 1892, are today all crosses between species considered

ABOVE Ca/anthe

achieved, presumably facilitated by an appropriate fungal species living in the potting medium of the mature orchid. The first intergeneric (a cross between species in different genera)

to be members of the genus Cattleya. Records of every orchid hybrid produced, and its parentage, w ere started in 1906 and are maintained today by the Royal Horticultural Society in the United Kingdom. GERMINATION D ISCOVERIES In 1922, American botanist Lewis Knudson ( 1884-1958) discovered that orchid seeds would germinate if spread over a nutrient-containing agar culture medium, so setting the stage for the mass production of orchid

masuca was one of the parent species of the first orch id hybrid known to have been produced in Europe.

ORCHIDELIRIU M

species and hybrids by seed produced in cultivation. The dependence of orchids on fungi for natural germination was not realized, though, for a long time after orchid seeds were being germinated around the roots of the adult plants. That there were interactions between plant roots and fungi was reported frequently, without anyone understanding the nature of the interactions taking place. In 1885 German botanist Albert Bernhard Frank (1839- 1900) introduced the term "mycorrhiza" for the association between fungi and plant roots, but it was 28

not until1899 that orchid seeds were found by French ABOVE Many terrestrial

orchid species, such as Dacty/orhiza fuchsii, can be successfully grown in cultivation by inoculating them with the appropriate fungus.

mycologist Noel Bernard ( 1874- 1911) to be infected by fungi. Bernard proved that this infection by an appropriate fungus induced orchid seed germination in 1903, when he infected orchid seeds with a pure culture of an orchid root fungus and followed their development into seedlings. He published a more general study of orchid germination in 1909. Although nearly all epiphytic orchid species and many terrestrial species can be grown from seed on nutrient-enriched agar, most groups oforchids can be germinated by mycorrhizal fungi. MASS PRODUCTION AND DIVERSITY

BELOW Andean

Trichoceros antennifer is pollinated by sexual ly deceived male flies, but despite its fly-like appearance it is popular in horticulture.

Although orchids were initially only grown in Europe and North America by the well-to-do, as time has passed and mass artificial production of plants, both by seeds germinated on agar and with a fungus, has brought increased availability and lo·wer prices, they have become much more widely cultivated. Today, mass-produced orchid hybrids are grown in the Netherlands, the United States, and East Asia so efficiently that flowering orchid plants are cheaply available in supermarkets and commercial nurseries in great quantities. Nevertheless, particular hybrids and rare species still command much higher prices and remain almost solely within the realm of specialist collections. Ultimately, the fascination w ith orchids is almost certainly due to the huge diversity of orchid flower types and their incongruous combination of relatively unattractive plants with spectacularly beautiful

ORCHID EL I Rl U M

flowers. No one could describe a Cattleya plant as even vaguely interesting, but when this horrible thing bursts into flower it inspires such admiration that the ugly plant itself is forgotten. If you attend an orchid show, then it is easy to think that all orchid flowers are big and showy. This, though, is far from true. We have illustrated here many of the smaller non-showy species so that a more balanced view of orchid diversity can be gained. All of the 600 orchids featured in these pages are species (not hybrids), and we have purposely focused on their history post-discovery and what little may be known about their biology and ecology, as well as shedding light on some uses other 29

than in horticulture. Above all, our aim in this book is to convey a real sense of the astonishing species diversity that exists in nature within probably the most remarkable of all plant families. NOTES ON THE DESCRIPTIONS P !ant sizes are provided to give a general sense ofhow large or small these species are. The reader is likely to observe some plants that are larger or smaller than the size indicated. For some orchids, it is easy to estimate height and width because each season the plant dies back to an underground tuber, but for many others, especially the tropical epiphytic species, each stem (often with a pseudo bulb, a swollen portion of the stem) is perennial. Each year a new stem is produced, and thus a plant increases in size over its lifetime. The height of these older plants is more or less constant but their width increases. The widths provided here are for the single growth produced annually, not for a clump of such growths, which will become larger as the plant ages. The height of such plants always includes the pseudobulb plus the leaf itself. In some cases, the leaf falls off at the end of the season, but the height provided always includes the leaf, even if at the time of flowering the leaf has fallen. Flower size is measured from the top of the petal to the bottom of the lip or the two lateral sepals, if the latter are longer than the lip (they are often shorter). As with plant size, these sizes are given to provide a general impression of the flower size and smaller as well as larger examples will be encountered. The area shaded in the distribution maps shows the native range of the species, and flowering times are given in months and/ or seasons as appropriate to the region.

ABOVE Gavi/ea araucana is an attractive species from Ch ile and Argentina but due to its problematic cultural requirements it is not seen in horticulture.

APOSTASIOIDEAE, VANILLOIDEAE & CYPRIPEDIOIDEAE

33

These three subfamilies account for few of the great number of orchid species, but they do contribute much variety in terms of vegetative and floral diversity. The smallest subfamily is Apostasioideae, its two genera and 14 species entirely confined to the tropics of Asia, where they are rarely recognized as orchids, lacking the usual fusion of the male and female parts of the flower. This has caused some botanists to consider them to be primitive orchids, although, in fact, o ther than their lack of fusion, Apostasioideae species are highly modified and unlike what we would imagine to be a primitive orchid. The 247 species in the 14 genera of Vanilloideae on the other hand have flowers that look like orchids but are vegetatively unlike an orchid, being tropical vines and small leafy and leafless plants, mostly herbs, of the temperate zones. The slipper orchids, subfamily Cypripedioideae (five genera, 169 species), are both tropical and north temperate species. They differ mostly in their retention oftwo anthers, although these are completely fused to the female parts, making them otherwise true orchids. Cypripedioideae species are mostly herbaceous plants, although a few resemble bamboos and can grow to a height of 20 feet (6 m).

APOSTAS IOI DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Apootasioideae Not applicable T ropical East Asia~ from eastern Himalayas through Southeast

Asia, north to Yakushima Island (japan).and soot!> to Queensland (Australia), at abom 6Sij....S,600 ft (200- 1,700 m) Tropical, broadlcaf, evergreen humid forests, often in wncs of mist and splash from rivers, cascades, or waterfalls Terrestrial or on rocks locally common june roScprember ( w etscason)

FLOWER SIZE

1i in ( l em) PLANT SIZE

Up to l6X 14in (40 x 36cm)

APOSTASIA WALL/CHI/

YELLOW GRASS ORCHID R. BROWN, 1830

34

The Yellow Grass Orchid looks like a clump of grass, and its flowers are unlike other orchids. T hey are not resupinate (with the lip lowermost), and the anthers are only partially fused with the style. The flowers are almost regularly symmetrical and resemble those of the grasslike herb yellow star grass (Hypoxis !tirsuta). Due to their unusual features, the genus Apostasia along with the genus Neuwiedia had been placed in a separate family, reflected in the name Apostasia, from the Greek for "separation" or "divorce." The orchid 's pollen is shed in response to vibration by pollinating insects. The roots have a strong smell of manure and are sometimes used medicinally to treat d iarrhea and sore eyes. Nodules on the roots could be associated w ith a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi that is typical ofsuch orchids.

Actual size

The flower of the Yellow Grass Orchid is fragrant and has six slightly fleshy, boat-shaped, yellow tepals. There are two free stamens held parallel to the style, with their filaments partly fused to it, and the anthers clasp the style.

APOSTASIO IDEAE

SUBFAMILY

Aposrasioideae

TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

N ot applicable

NATIVE RANGE

Malesia to Melan esia, from Borneo and Java to the Phil ippines and Vanuatu, from sea level to 3,300 ft (I,000 m)

HABITAT

Evergreen dipcerocarp foresrson sandstone, limesr.one, ulrramafic

- - - - - - +•:o.::. :il .:: o'..:'h:::•:.: lez.: , "::: '"=ally in deep shade under humid condi tions TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Terrestrial o r on rocks Locally abundant j une ro Sepremher(werseason)

FLOWER SIZE I ~ in (3.5 em)

PLANT SIZE

22 x 18 in

NEUWIEDIA VERATRIFOLIA

FALSE HELLEBORE ORCHID BLUME,ISJ~

(56 x 46cm)

35

Few people when they look at Neuwiedia veratrifolia think it is an orc hid. Named for German naturalist, ethnologist, and explorer P rince Maximi lian Alexander Philipp zu WiedNeuwied (1782-1867), these large hairy plants produce up to ten plicate leaves that more closely resemble false hellebore (Veratrum, in the fami ly Melanthiaceae). Like the genus Apostasia, Neuwiedia was placed in a separate family in the past

because it has three free anthers instead of the single fused anther found in most other orchids. T he two genera, however, share some unique traits with orchids and are now considered to be members of the 0 rchidaceae family. Neuwiedia veratrifolia is self-compatible and mostly

self-pollinating. In addition, stingless Trigonu bees visit the flowers, vibrate the anthers, and are then dusted with the pollen released.

The flower of the False Hellebore Orchid has wh ite crystals in its tissues. The upper sepals and petals are asymm etrical, whereas the lip is symm et rical and broader than the petals. Three stamens emerge from the colu mn base. and the anthers are free from the style.

Actual size

VANILLOIDEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE

NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Vanilloideae Pogonieae Southeas[ern United Smtes (New Jersey to Florida, eas[ern Tennessee, and Kentucky) Pine barrens, bogs, we[ meado"'S,. stream courses Terrestrial

Thrc'Otencd or endangered Aprilto june (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

4Yz in (1 1.4 em) PLANT SIZE

Stem up to 24 in (61 em)

CLEISTESIOPSIS DIVARICATA

ROSEBUD ORCHID (L!NNAEUS} PANSARIN & F. BARROS, 2008

36

The fragrant, vanilla-scented Rosebud Orchid can b e found in wetland areas of southeastern North America. The slender, long-stemmed plant typically bears one showy flower, subtended by a leafy bract that is usually longer than the ovary. Bees gather nectar from a pair of glands at the labellum base. Underground, the plant has a mass of thick roots attached to a rhizome and no tuber. Cleistes, on which the genus name is based, comes from

the Greek word for "closed," referring to the petals and lip, which form a tube, concealing the column. This makes the flower appear unopened, like a bud- hence its common name. T he other part of the genus name, -opsi~, refers to the plant's similarity to the large Neotropical genus Cleisus, in which it was previously included until DNA studies demonstrated that it should be segregated.

Actual size

The flower of the Rosebud Orchid has long, acu minate, usually maroon sepals and petals of soft rose pink, the latter never openi ng fully. The petals and long-keeled Ia beiium, which is also pi nk with darker markings, form a long tunnel-like tube.

VA NILLOIDEAE

SUBFAMILY TRIBE NATIVE RANGE

Vanilloideae Pogonieae Michigan cluough Onmrio to New England, south to Tennessee,

Ceorg-la, and South Carolina HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Semi-open, mesic foresrsof easrern NorrJt America Terrestrial T hreatened April to May (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

I \Sin (3.8 em) PLANT SIZE

ISOTRIA MEDEOLOIDES

SMALL WHORLED POGONIA

Stem up to 12 in (30 em), with whorl of leaves just below d•e flower

(PURSII) RAFINESQUE,ISJS

37

Considered to be the rarest orchid east of the Mississippi River, this species is found in temperate woodlands, where its ecology is tied deeply to the trees around it. The species name derives from the Small Whorled Pogonia's superficial resemblance to the plantMedeola virginiana, or Indian cucumber-root, which grows in similar habitats. The plant structure, unusual for an orchid, consists of a hollow stem with five or six bladelike leaves arranged in a whorl at its apex just below a single flower, although two flowers occasionally occur. Underground there is a mass of roots and no tuber. Unlike its showie r sister species, !so tria v erticillata, f. medeoloides is sparse, often solitary, or found in small

colonies. Like many woodland terrestrials, this species has been known to disappear or retreat underground for years at a time, making population studies difficult.

The flower of the Small Whorled Pogonia has pale green sepals and petals and a wh itish lip. The flowers do not open fully and are often short lived.

Acn1al size

VANILLOID EAE

SUBFAMILY TRIBE

NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS

FLOW£RING TIME

Vanilloideae Pogonieae

Eastern Nord1 America, from Canada to Florida and wes[ to Minnesota We[ meadows.. bogs) stream side~ often occurring in poorly

drained roadside ditches Terrestrial Threatened or endangered

I £arly spring in south ro mtdsummer ul nonhero pan ofrange

FLOWER SIZE

I Y, -2 in (3.8-5 em) PLANT SIZE

6-10 in (15- 25cm), including inflorescence

POGONIA OPHJOGLOSSOIDES

ROSE POGON IA (LINNAEUS) KER GAWLER, 1816

38

A slender, semi-aquatic plant, often occuning in bogs and beside streams, the pretty Rose Pogonia can be locally abundant, often proliferating into lush, multi-growth colonies. Preferring to grow where there is easily available, pure water, this species is scarce in years with sparse rainfall but will rebound in wet periods. T he short-lived, mostly pale pink flowers can vary in color and intensity and probably use their darker fringed labellum with yellowish filamentous crests to attract pollinators. T his open-jawed appearance explains the plant's alternative common names, Add e r's Mouth or Snake Mouth. Underground, there is a mass of roots but no tuber. Pogonias grow in dappled light, usually in moist sphagnum moss, and can produce massive colonies. T he genus name comes from the Greek wordpogon, meaning beard, which refers to the hairy labellum.

AcruaJ size

The flower of t he Rose Pogonia is u sually pale pink with a darker lip, fringed with purplish striat ions, and a yellow crest. Flowers appear singly on a stem, though up to three have b een reported on vigorous plants.

VAN ILLO IDEAE

SUBFAMILY TRIBE NATIVE RANGE

Vanilloideae Vanilleae Soucl>eg)

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (O.Scm) PLANT SIZE

ASPIDOGYNE QUERCETICOLA

JU G ORCHID

5- 12 X 3-5 in (13-30 x 8-13cm), irlcluding inAorescence

(UNDLEY) MENEGUZZO, ZOIZ

75

The Jug Orchid grows in low elevation habitats, especially in shady wet sites. It has a creeping rhizome (stem) with two or three roots at each node, and forms upright shoots with up to six spirally arranged leaves that are often white-veined and have an inflated, sheathing base. Its relatives in C entral and South America can have dark leaves with white to gold veins. The Jug Orchid sometimes branches and forms small colonies of plants. At almost any time of the year a flower stem can emerge, bearing many tiny flowers each with a bract beneath it. No data exist about the pollination of these flowers. However, their broad lip, with a short, rounded spur containing nectar, resupinate flowers, and their flower color suggest pollination by bees or perhaps butterfl ies.

The flower of the Jug Orchid has three cupped, white sepals, two small petals that are tinged brown and held together to form a tube with the upper sepa l, and a recurved, three-lobed, white Iip, basally extended into a sacklike nectar spur.

Actual size

ORCH IOOIOEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Cranichideoe, Goodyerinae Himalayas ro Yunnan (China), Burma, and Thailand Damp places in lor-14 x 4-8 in

(15- 35 x 10-20cm), including irlflorescence

100

FUNK/ELLA HYEMALIS

MONARCH ORCHID (A. RICHARD & GALEOTTI) SCHLECHTER, 1920

The Monarch Orchid, common in the Mexican Abies religiosa fir forests where the monarch butterflies overwinter, forms a loose basal cluster of between one and five narrow fleshy leaves from a cluster of fleshy hairy roots. It usually occurs in soils that often have substantial amounts ofleaf and pine needle litter. The inflorescence bears clasping bracts along the stem, and the uppermost bracts sub tend between one and five large, fragrant, white flowers. Funkiella hyemalis is the highestgrowing orchid species in Mexico and Central America, occurring up to 13, I 00 ft ( 4,000 m). Flowers are probably pollinated by bumblebees, which force their heads into the narrow chamber formed by lip, petals, and dorsal sepal. The genus is named in honor of the Belgian explorer and orchid collector, Nicolas Funck (1816-96).

The flower of the Monarch Orchid is white and emerges from a bract. The elongate, narrow lateral sepals flare outwa rd. The upper (dorsal) sepa l and petals form an upper lip. The lip, tinged red in the throat, is flared and clawed and has a V-shaped limb. Acrua.l size

ORCH IDOIDEAE

SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE

Orchidoideae Cranichideae, Spiranthinae Venezuela; eastern and southeas[ern Braz..il, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina

Wer monrane foresrs, at 1,300--4,920 fr (400-1,500 m) TYPE AND PLACEMENT Epiphytic in shade on mossy tree rrunks CONSERVATION STATUS Not formally assessed, but under d~tcat locally by deforestation and oolloctors FLOWERING TIME j une to October (winre•· r.ospring} HABITAT

FLOWER SIZE

Y, in (LScm) PLANT SIZE

LANKESTERELLA CERACIFOLIA

WAX-LEAVED ORCHID (BARBOSA RODRJGUES) MANSFELD,

1 3x 2- 3in (2.5-7.5 x 5-7.5cm), irlcluding inAorescence

19~

10 1

The epiphytic genus Lankesterella was named in honor of Charles Lankester, an English orchidophile who lived most of his life in Costa Rica and founded the botanical garden there that now bears his name. Its species have hairy but not particularly thick roots and form a cluster ofsucculent, keeled, ovate, glossy leaves with fine hairs along their margins. The Wax-leaved Orchid produces an arching, hairy flower stem with large bracts subtending each of up to four white, spurred flowe rs. T he genus is closely related to the other epiphytic genus in its subtribe, Euryscyles, which has different flowers. They may be mistaken for small bromeliads (looking much like Spanish moss and relatives) when not in flower. Some plants in this species may have more grayish leaves than others. T he pollinator of this species is unknown, but its morphology and color suggest a small moth.

The flower of the Wax-leaved Orchid is hairy and tubular, with three greenish· wh ite sepa Is that are hairy outside. The two petals are creamy white and curve upward, opposite the broad, white lip with its green markings. A large nectar spu r projects backward.

Actual size

ORCH IOOIOEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Cranichideoe, Spirancltinae

Tropical nonheastern and eascern South America, southeastern Brazil>and on Trinidad

Open savannas Terrestrial Not assessed, but probably not threatened June lO December

FLOWER SIZE

Y, io (1.25 em) PLANT SIZE

4-0 io (10- lS cm), including inflorc.-"Sccnce

LYROGLOSSA GRISEBACH/1

LYRE-LIPPED LADY'S TRESSES (COGNIAUX) SCHLECHTER, 1921

102

The little-studied Lyre-lipped Lady's Tresses orchid has numerous, short, hairy fat roots and an erect stem with a few small, densely hairy oblong-lanceolate leaves. These are topped with similarly hairy bracts that sub tend each of the up to 12 externally hairy flowers. It seems unlikely that the small leaves could produce enough energy through photosynthesis to support so many flowers, but this species has green leaves; it is not a fungal parasite. The floral morphology is similar to that of some hummingbird-pollinated species in the same sub tribe, but the flower color does not suggest such a pollinator. The species name honors German botanist August Grisebach (1814-79), who was a specialist on the flora of the West Indies.

The genus name refers to the lip (glossu being Greek for "tongue," or in this case "lip"), which is lyre-shaped.

AC(ualsize

The flower of the Lyre-lipped Lady's Tresses is bell shaped and has green sepa ls. The two white and green-striped petals are curved upward inside the sepal tube, enclosing the column. The lip is narrower at the base and broad ly rounded at the tip with green lines.

ORC HID OIDEAE

SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

O rchidoideae Cranichideae, Spiranthinae Tropical America, from southern Mexico co northeastern Argenlina Rain fo resrs,arup ro 6,900 fr (2, 100 m) Terrestrial, or on rocks Not assessed Throughout the year

FLOWER SIZE ~in (l cm)

PLANT SIZE

PELEXIA LAXA

LAX HELMET ORCHID (POEPPIG & ENDLICHER) LINDLEY, 1~0

The Lax Helmet Orchid grows in a variety of habitats, but mostly wet forests. A rosette of between four and eight thick, mottled, petiolate leaves-sometimes with whitish cream spots or stripes-emerges from a cluster of thick, hairy roots. The inflorescence is densely hairy, and each flower is subtended by a bract. The genus name derives from the Greek word pelex, meaning "helmet," while laxa is Latin for "loose," both in reference to the shape of the dorsal sepal and petals. The flowers are pollinated by bumblebees. These insects contact the pointed tip of the column while their mouthparts extend in an attempt to reach the nectar deeply buried in tl1e long spur.

Actual size

The flower of the Lax Helmet Orchid has a hood form ed by the dorsal sepal and peta ls. The la teral sepa ls project forward, and there is a saccate spur at the back. The lip and sepals are white, and the rest of the flower is redd ish-green to pale green.

8- 14 X 6-8 in (2ll-35 x 15--20 em), including inAorescence

103

ORCH IOOIOEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT

TYPE AND PlACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Cranichideae, Spirancltinae Tropical America, from soucltern Mexico to Paraguay and southern Brazil Shady places in forest margins at middle elevarjons Terrestrial in humu~ gravel, or sand Not assessed, but widespread

Throughout tlte year

FLOWER SIZE

Jl in (2.3 cm) PLANT SIZE

6- 16 X 4-16 in (15--41 x 10-41 em), irlcluding inAoresce11ce

PTEROGLOSSA ROSEOALBA

SPOTTED JEWEL ORCHID (REICHENBACH FILS) SALAZAR & M. W, CHASE, 2002

104

This species is perhaps better known under another genus, Eltroplectris, to which it is not closely related. An erect, fewto-many-flowered inflorescence is produced from a rosette of oblanceolate (elongate oval), yellow- or white-spotted leaves with a cluster offat hairy roots. The bracts on the flower stem are tinged with purple and cover most of the stem and the emerging flowers. The leaves are seasonal, and after flowering the plant has a dormant period, usually during the dry season, when it disappears underground. The flowers are flushed with pink in many cases and scentless, but there is abundant nectar in the long spur. The pollinators of this species are unknown, but the thick floral tube and the more darkly pigmented column suggest that hummingbird pollination is a possibility.

Acrual size

The flower of the Spotted Jewel Orchid is tubular and has three free, narrow sepals and two si milar petals. The flowers are white but often tinged with pink, and the anther and stigma are more brightly colored pink or red.

ORCH ID OIDEAE

SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

O rchidoideae Cranichideae, Spiranthinae T ropical America from soucltern Florida and Mexico to Paraguay Open and gr•ssy places in tropical deciduous forests, at up to ; ,600ft ( I ,700 m) T errestrial

Not assessed, but locally c-ommon and also in disturbed habitats j uly to November(summerto fall)

FLOWER SIZE

Y, in(2.3cm) PLANT SIZE

SACOILA LANCEOLATA

SCARLET LADY'S TRESSES (AUBLET) GARAY, 1980

12- 36in (30 90 cm),

including the inflorescence~ but not the leaves, which are absenr during ~owe ring

105

From a mass of thick, hairy, fleshy roots connected to a short rhizome, the Scarlet Lady's Tresses produces a basal rosette of lanceolate leaves. Afi:er the leaves die, or as they are dying, a stout raceme is formed with 15-30 coral, pink, red, or orange flowers. Sacoila lanceolata is widespread in the tropics and subtropics of the New World, but there are populations that produce seeds without pollination (even without self-pollination) and others that are visited by hummingbirds. In some areas, the plant becomes weedy and occurs in high densities in disturbed sites. The tubular flowers are odorless and are frequently visited by hummingbirds, which have no sense ofsmell. They pick up the pollinia, which, unlike those on most hummingbird-pollinated orchids, are yellow and not the usual gray matching the color of the bird's bill.

The flower of the Scarlet Lady's Tresses has sepals that are hairy outside. Two sepa ls are free and form a short basa l spur, whi le the upper one is fused with the petals. The lip is recurved and, with the other floral pa rts, forms a tube that leads to the spur.

ORCH IOOIOEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Cranichideae, Spirancltinae Tropical South America, Trinidad, Tobago, and G renada Tropical wet lowland and montane fo rests, from sea level to 8,900 fr (2,700 m) Terrestrial Not assessed February to October (summer to spring)

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (2 em) PLANT SIZE

25-40 X 30-40 in (63-102 x 76-102 em), irlcluding inAoresce11ce

SARCOGLOTTIS ACAULIS

ST EMLESS JEWEL ORCHID (S~IITH)

106

SCHLECHTER, 1919

On the forest floor, the Stemless Jewel Orchid forms a rosette of obovate-elliptic, mottled or white-striped leaves, from which an erect hairy inflorescence emerges, with upright flowers subtended by lanceolate, pointed bracts. Underground is a large cluster of fat, hairy roots. The flowers contain nectar, produced in the cavity on the base of the lip, and pollina ria of this species have been found on the mouth parts of an euglossine bee (Eulaema cingulaca). The male bee is well known for the collection of orchid floral fragrances in other, unrelated groups of orchids. However, in other Sarcoglottis species, both male and female euglossine bees have been observed pollinating flowers. Female euglossine bees collect nectar, so this is clearly not a case of floral fragrance being the reward.

Actual size

The flower of the St em less Jewel Orchid is green and upright, with the tip curved outward. The sepa ls are velvety outside, with the upper sepal forming a hood with the green-striped petals. The lip, recurved between the two lower sepals, is pale green w ith darker green markings.

ORC HID OIDEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Cranichideae, Spiranthinae Colombia and Ecuador1 soud1ern Brazil to nonhern Argentina, and Bolivia Wer foresrs and grasslands ar5.900-3,200 fr (I,800-2,500 m) Terrestrial

Not assessed Throughout the year

FLOWER SIZE

V. in (O.Scm) PLANT SIZE

SAUROGLOSSUM ELATUM

LIZARD-TON GUE ORCHID

12- 32 X 10 20 in (30-81 x 25-51 em), including inAorescence

liNDlEY, 18JJ

107

The leaves and flowers of the Lizard-tongue Orchid are produced at the same time. A rosette of thick-veined, oblonglanceolate leaves grows from a cluster of fat, hairy roots, with an erect inflorescence emerging, with bracts at each node. The species is similar to Sauroglossum nitidum and is often confused with it. Sauroglossum elatum, however, has fewe r, herbaceous, petiolate leaves, a less dense inflorescence, and a lip with more upturned sides. The genus name Saurogwssum comes from the Latin for "lizard" (sauros) and "tongue" (glossa), refe rring to the shape of the sepals, which are held upright. T he flowers appear to produce nectar at the base of the lip, but pollination has not been observed, although the general floral morphology is similar to species of the genus Pele:x:iu, which are pollinated by bumblebees.

The flower of the Lizard-tongue Orchid has green sepals. Two are curved upward, whereas the upper one c urves over the f lower and form s an elongate tube with the petals and lip. The lip is white and shortly recurved at the apex.

Acrual size

ORCH IO OIOEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Cranichideoe, Spirancltinae Southern Brazil and Umguoy

Open grassland and scrubland, from sea level to 5,250 ft (I ,600 m) Terrestrial Nor assessed October to Deoember (late spring to early summer)

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (0.75 em) PLANT SIZE

14 26 X 6-10 in (~ x

15-25cm),

irlcluding inAoresce11ce

SKEPTROSTACHYS ARECHAVALETAN/1

SCEPT ER ORCHID (DARBOSA RODRIGUES) GARAY, 1980

108

The Scepter Orchid grows in open areas, including wet meadows and marshes that are subject to seasonal fires. It also occurs in rocky fields, known as campos rupestres in Brazil. From a short rhizome, with a cluster of finger! ike, fleshy hairy roots, a central stem is formed with a series ofspirally arranged leaves that quickly become smaller and merge with the large pale bracts subtending each flower. The flower stem is topped with 25-50 densely packed flowers arranged in a spike. There is no information available on pollination of this species. Its similarity in shape and color to Sacoila lanceolata (see page 105), however, might suggest that it is pollinated by hummingbirds.

The flower of the Scepter Orchid is cora l to orange red. It is small, fleshy, and does not fully open. The sepals and petals are held forward, and the lip points down between the two lateral sepals, forming a channel into the nectar cavity at the lip base.

Actual size

ORCH IDOIDEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Cranichideae, Spiranthinae Central and eas[ern North America (including southeas[ern Canada), abserH from Florida Open, moisc, and sandy areas as well as bogs Terrestrial Not drreatened September and October, sometimes blooming well into November

FLOWER SIZE ~in (! em)

PLANT SIZE

6-16 X 4-6 in (15--41 x 10-lScm), including inAorescence

SPIRANTHES CERNUA

N ODDING LADY'S TRESSES (UNNAEUS) RICHARD, 1817

The

109

odding Lady 's Tresses is one of the most

common orchids of North America, often form ing large lush colonies in moist or marshy areas and grasslands that are difficult to spot until the small, brilliant white fragrant flowers are produced. It was a well-known species even before it was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. T he "lady's tresses" of the common name (applied to all species in the genus) refers to the resemblance of the inflorescence to the braided hair worn by ladies. Able to produce seed by both sexual and asexual means, and with a propensity to frantically produce new plandets by trailing stOlons in p rime environmental conditions, Spiranthes cernua often colonizes disturbed areas, such as roadside ditches and even lawns, where its late-flowering allows it to survive mowing. Large drifts of pristine blooms often appear in older cemeteries in the fall. Pollination is by bees, especially bumblebees.

The flower of the Nodding Lady's Tresses is pure crystalline white and deeply cu pped, usually arranged in attractive spira Is on the upper portion of its inflorescence.

Ac(l.Jalsize

ORCH IOOIOEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT

TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

FLOWER SIZE

Orchidoideae C ranichideoe, Spirancltinae

Japan, che Korean Peninsula, pan o fRussia, Jraq~ SoutheascAsia, Indonesia, Australia, !Xew Zealar,d, and rna11y Pacific islar,ds Open, moistgrassy area~ bo~ and even la'\vns, and often in disturbed lttobitats such as dtc bcnns of rice paddies (naturalized in many parts of d1e world)

Terrestrial Not thremened )Ltly to August

(

1i in(l em) PLANT SIZE

6- 15 X 4 8 in

(15--38 x 10-20 cm), irlcluding inAoresce11Ce

1 10

1

SPIRANTHES SINENSIS

PIN K LADY'S TRESSES (PERSOON) AMES, 1908

This pretty, ubiquitous weed of temperate and tropical Asia thrives, spreads, and seeds itself readily in almost any open sunny, grassy areas that have ample moisture. With an incredible latitudinal range, the species has adapted to a wide variety of climates, tolerating harsh frozen winters and torrid humidity. Happily colonizing disturbed and cultivated areas, it often appears in prepared flower beds. Plants are perennial but short-lived- about five years- and are thought to replace themselves regularly by producing copious seed. T he species is the only Spiranthes that strays from white or yellow in its color scheme. The striking flowers, variable in color, are usually pink or purple, although lavender, red, and white forms also exist. They arrange themselves g racefully in a spiral around the upright inflorescence. Pollination by megachilid (leaf-cutting) bees has been documented.

The flower of the Pink Lady's Tresses is small, with the blooms arranged in a spiral raceme on an upright stem. Sepals and petals are vibrant pink or purple often with a pure crystalline-white lip.

Aclual size

ORCH ID OIDEAE

SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Cranichideae, Spiranthinae Mexico, clte Caribbean to Peru Moister ar eas o f seasonally dry semi-deciduous foreso;, o ften o n sreep embankments near seeps, m 3,950- 9,850 ft (1,200-3,000 m) Terrestrial, occasionally epiphytic Not d~teatened

Winter

FLOWER SIZE

'!. in(1.8cm) PLANT SIZE

STENORRHYNCHOS SPECIOSUM

VERMILION LADY'S TRESSES

8- 36 X 6-10 in

(2ll-91 x 15--25 cm), irlcluding inAorescence

(JACQUIN) RICHARD, 1817

111

One of the more spectacular of the terrestrial orchids, also amenable to cultivation, the widespread Vermil ion Lady's Tresses has a basal rosette of spirally arranged , variegated (striped or spotted) leaves reminiscent of the garden plant Hosta. True spectacle ensues when brilliant red spikes emerge from the center of the rosettes, bearing dazzling, torch like racemes of up to 50 (usually 20-30) small red and white flowers, each sub tended by a bright red bract. Pollinating hummingbirds are irresistibly drawn to these flowers, which are waxy and tough enough to stand up to the onslaught of a bird 's beak. The handsome plants have a cluster of thick, hairy roots that sustain them through dry seasons when leaves wither. This dormancy usually occurs shortly after blooming takes place. Some forms of this species have entirely green leaves without any variegation.

The flower of the Vermilion Lady's Tresses is small, c upped. and white but infused with bri II iant red and su blended by a dazzling red bract, which makes the bloom s and inflorescence appear to be completely red.

Actual siz-e

ORCH IOOIOEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Diurideae; Acianchinae Coastal regions of New Somh Wales and Q ueensland in eastern Auslralia Sand dunes and coastal scrub near gullies_ often under shrubs Terrestrial Nor threatened Aprilto May (fall)

FLOWER SIZE

1i in(l em) PLANT SIZE

4 6 X l l>- 2V.in (10-15 x ~ern), irlcluding inAoresce11ce

ACIANTHUS FORNICATUS

LARGE MOSQUITO ORCHID 1\0BEI\TBI\OWN, 1810

1 12

The extremely common Large Mosquito Orchid, found in the coastal scrub of eastern Australia, is said to be so plentiful and grow so densely that it is impossible not to step on one while exploring its habitat. A deciduous, colony-forming plant with small, subterranean tubers, Acianthus fornicatus blooms in the Australian fall after a two-month hot dry rest in the sweltering summer months. With the return of the rains, a distinctive heart-shaped leaf, suffused with purple markings underneath, is first to emerge. Actual size

From each leaf center, a single, slender inflorescence of up to 6 in (15 em) arises, bearing small, hooded flowers arranged around the stem. The common name is from its small mosquito-like flowers. Pollinators are thought to be small flies attracted to the smell of rotting plant mate rial or fungi-small amounts of nectar are also present.

The flower of the Large Mosquito Orchid is small and green with fused, poi nted segments and a hooded dorsal sepal.

ORCH ID OIDEAE

SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

O rchidoideae Diurideae, Acianthinae Somhe.astern AustraJia, from southern South Auscrnlia and Kangaroo Island, to Victoria, New South 'J:'ales, arld Tasmania Woodland and scrub wirlt Mediterranean climate Terrestrial

Not assessed, but locally abundant j une to October (winter to spring)

FLOWER SIZE

Y, in (l.Scm) PLANT SIZE

Io/.(ixrl{l in (4 x !.Scm),

CORYBAS 0/EMENICUS

PURPLE HELMET ORCHID

irlcluding inAorescence

(LINDLEY) RUPP, !928

11 3

The intriguing, intricate, and tiny Purple Helmet Orchid is believed to be a mushroom mimic. The flower has small glands on each side of the column, which, when punctured, produce a liquid of unknown function or purpose. A fungus gnat carrying pollinia fits neatly in the small space between the glands and pollinia. Pollination is, however, not very effective as only a small number of fertilized ovaries have been observed. Deep underground, there is a single small tuber with fine lateral roots spreading outward. T he genus name is derived from the Phrygian mythological male dancers, korybantes, who worshipped the goddess Cybele, mother of Corybas, and were depicted wearing crested helmets. T he epithet, diemenicus, refers to Van Diemen's Land, the former name of Tasmania, the island where the species was first encountered.

The flower of the Purple Helmet Orchid is glossy reddish-brown and sits di rectly on a heart-shaped leaf. The fringed upper sepa l is curved over the rest of the f lower, and all other parts are highly red uced and form a tube. The colu mn is shor t and hidden, flanked by two glands.

Acrual size

ORCH IOOIOEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Orchidoideae Diurideae; Acianchinae Malaysia and western Indonesia (Java. Sumatra, Borneo)

Middle elevation forests Terrestrial on mossy rocks and tree trunks, usually on steep slopes Not assessed but rare O-25 em), eftccrively justa lcafl('SSstem at the lime of flo\verir)g

UNNAEUS, 1753

195

Found in sphagnum bogs and other wet areas, the love ly American Dragon Mouth, while not technically endangered, does not enjoy the range of populations it once had. Its southern locations are high in the mountains, where populations are smaller than they are in the colder northe rn reaches of the orchid's range. The genus name derives from the sea nymph Arethusa, who was transformed into a fountain in ancient Greek mythology. Underground, the stem, which is nearly leafless at flowering, springs from a corm (a bulb-like swollen stem-hence the species name). Early in the season , the fragrant blooms attract bumblebee queens of the species Bomb us ternarius and

B. terricolu, before they learn to avoid this non-reward-offering plant. Corms ofArethusa bulbosa have been used as a remedy for boils, toothaches, tumors, and various degenerative diseases.

The flower of the American Dragon Mouth is usually pinkish-purple with erect sepals and peta ls, the latter covering the colum n. The sharply recu rving lip is pale pink to white with amethyst stripes and blotches, and the yellow keels are covered with fingerlike projections.

Acrual si.ze

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE

Epidendroideae Arethuseae, Arethusinae Tropical and subtropical Asia; also naruralized in the American

and African tropics Exposed situations, rocks, lava flo"'$, and in meado~ up to 3,950 ft (1,200 m) TYPE AND PLACEMENT Terrestrial CONSERVATION STATUS A common species in irs native and non-native areas FLOWERING TIME I january to December (bur also rluoughout the year) HABITAT

FLOWER SIZE 2~ in (6.5 em)

PLANT SIZE

196

50- 100 X 12- 30 in (127-254 x 3J-76 cm), including inflorescence, which occurs at r.he [ips of the tall plants

ARUNDINA GRAMINIFOLIA

BAMBOO ORCHID (D. DON) HOCJJREUTJNER, 1910

The Bamboo Orchid is one of the most commonly encountered through the tropical regions of the world . It has escaped from gardens into the wild on many occasions, often becoming part of island floras, in places such as P uerto R ico, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Hawaii, and Reunion, where it colonizes fresh lava flows. Alternating lanceolate leaves produced by a tall stem make the plant look like a bamboo. Each stem bears a bract-bearing inflorescence that carries up to six fragrant flowers, produced one at a time. The flowers lack nectar but have extrafloral nectaries on the inflorescence, which are visited by many insects, especially ants. As its fruit set is often good, the species is probably selfpollinating . Othe1wise, in many places where the orchid grows naturally or has been introduced, pollination is by carpenter bees of the genus Xylocopa.

The flower of the Ba mboo Orchid is bright purple with narrow sepals---2li in (~cm)

PLANT SIZE

12- 22 X 12-18 in (3~56 x 33-46 em), excluding tlte i nfl orescence~

216

which is erect and railer than d1e leaves, 18--30 in (46-76 cm) long

CALANTHE SYLVATICA

BROAD-LEAVED FOREST ORCHID (THOUARS) LINDLEY, 1833

With a name derived from the Greek words for "beautiful flower" (calos, meaning "beautiful ," and anthos, "fl ower") Cala.nthe is a genus of mostly terrestrial orchids, widely admired for their stately spikes of colorful blooms, set against striking broad, plicate foliage typical of shade-loving forest understory plants. Possibly one of the earliest tropical orchids planted in a garden setting, the very first orchid hybrid, C. dominyi, was bred from this lovely species. The flower of the Broad-leaved rorest Orchid is deep or pale purple to violet and white and held on tall spikes above the foliage. Sepals are falcate or w ingl ike, whereas the petals are narrower. The lip is tri lobed with an indented m id lobe and bears a central yellow to orange crest

T he colorful well-spaced blossoms grow from sturdy upright spikes up to 16 in (40 em) long and bloom over a long period. Usually mauve or pale purple, the flowers can display richer, vibrant purples and other colors, and often take on an orangey hue as they fade. Although many related species are deciduous in temperate zones, this tropical member of the genus is evergreen and not able to take a freeze.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE NATIVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Collabieae T ropical Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Taiwan, throughout Southeast Asia ar'd Malesia to New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Samoa, and Fiji Shaded and humid places in forests, at 2,300-5,600 ft (700-1,700 m), olien on ridge tops

Terrestrial Unassessed April to june (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

%in (2 em) PLANT SIZE

CHRYSOGLOSSUM ORNATUM

GOLDEN C ICADA O RCHID BLUME,IS2;

Eac.hgrowth 8-14 x 2-4 in (20-36 x 5-IOcm), excluding in.tlorescence

217

The Golden Cicada Orchid grows in the shaded forest understory, often on or near rotting logs. It forms conical or cylindrical pseudobulbs, up to 2:X in (7 em) long, o n an underground rhizome, each a short distance from the others and bearing a single elliptic, plicate (ridged) leaf. On a 20 in (50 em) tall separate leafless pseudobulb, a laxly flowered inflorescence grows with I0-15blooms. The plant may be self-pollinating, but further study is needed. No nectar or fragrance has been reported, and little is really known about this species and its relatives. The genus name refers to the usually golden yellow, tongue-shaped lip of the orchid (from the Greek, chrysos, meaning "gold," and glossa, "tongue"). The common name is derived fro m the Chinese name for this species.

The flower of the Gol den Cicada Orchid is green with reddish-brown spots on the similar sepals and petals. The white to yellow lip has pu rple spots and two sma ll auricles and is trilobed. The column is shortly winged .

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE

NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Collahieoe

Peninsular Malaysia and wes[ern Indo nesia; Sumatra to Sulawesi

Hills and lower mownain forests, at I ,640-0,200 ft (500-1,900 m) Te rrestrial in shade Not assessed

January to February (summer)

FLOWER SIZE

%in(1.9cm) PLANT SIZE 6- 10 X 3-5 in (15--25 x

8--12 em),

COLLABIUM SIMPLEX

excluding inJtorescer1ce

MODEST JEWEL ORCHID

25-35 in (64-S9 em) mil

REICHENBACH FILS, 1881

218

The Modest Jewel Orchid has a shott, creeping stem with foursided pseudobulbs, each carrying a single blue green to pale green, purple-blotched, broadly lanceolate leaf with a stem. Older pseudobulbs are leafless, often resulting in a single leaf being present at a given time. From the base of the pseudobulb, a usually erect inflorescence emerges with many brightly colored, but not large, flowers. A nectar spur is present at the back of the flower, and although

pollination has not been reported , a moth might be expected to pollinate these plants, as bees are not frequent in the forest

understory where these plants grow. The genus name refers to the lateral sepals being joined to the base of the lip and nectar spur, from the Latin for "with" (col) and "lip" (labium) .

The flower of the Mod est Jewel Orch id has spreading sepals and petals that are all simi lar and greenish-yellow, tinged with pink along their edges. The lateral petals are attached broadly to the lip base. The white lip is broadly three-lobed to triangular.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Collabieae S ri Lanka and southern India Open parana grassland, above 3,950 ft (1,200 m) Terrestrial Nor assessed, bur rare and possibly endangered Februa1y to May (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

I in(2.5 em) PLANT SIZE

8- 15 X 3-4 in (20--38 x 8-IOcm),

IPSEA SPECIOSA

DAFFODIL ORCHID liNDlEY, 1831

excluding erect, unbranched inflorescence 9- I8 in(23-46cm) tall, " 'hich

is sliglrdy taller duUl the leaf

A grasslike leaf emerges from the Daffodil Orchid's underground pseudobulb. From the apex of that pseudobulb, a shoot forms with one to three large, sweetly scented, daffodillike flowers-hence the common name. The genus name comes from the Greek ipse, meaning "self," which refers to original single-species status in the genus Ipsea (three species are now recognized). Speciosa is Latin for "beautiful." A Sinhalese legend tells of a ptincess w ho walked with her elder

brother along a jungle path when she suddenly attempted to make love to him. The prince became angry and killed her, after which he found out that her unusual behavior must have been caused by a strange yam she ate, supposedly the pseudobulb of

lpseu speciosu. The plant is now often referred to as tl1e "yam that killed the younger sister," and the roots are still often used in local medicine for love-potions.

The flower of the Daffodil Orchid has spreading, bright yellow peta ls and sepals, shortly spurred at the back, and carrying a three· lobed lip with th e sidelobes su rrou nding the colum n. The m id lobe is ruffled and forward projecting.

I Acrual s ize

219

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE

NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Collahieoe Eastern Himalayas co souchern China and Indochina~ the Philippines, Malaysia, and western Indonesia Lower monrane oak-laurel or mixed forescs, ar98S-6~600 ft (300--2,000 m) Terrestrial in shady places Not formally assessed, but widespread and not threatened I May 10 j uly (spnng 1.0 summer), sometimes agamlater m d1e year

FLOWER SIZE

I in (2.5 em) PLANT SIZE

5 8X 3-6in

(13--20 x 8--15 em),

220

excluding inflorescence, which isslighrly caller d>an the leaves, 6- 10 in (1>-25 cJn) mil

NEPHELAPHYLLUM PULCHRUM

SILVER JEWEL ORCHID BLUME, 1825

The Silver Jewel Orchid produces cylind rical pseudobulbs on a fleshy rhizome, topped with a single, ovate-triangular or cordate, dark and silver-green, often purple-tinged variegated leaf. It carries a densely packed inflorescence with between three and seven small flowers. The species is variable in flower form, and a number of different regional variants can be recognized, Acrual size

particularly var. sikkimensis from the Himalayas. The genus name refers to the cloud-like coloration of the leaf (from the Greek words neplws, for "cloud," and phyllon, "leaf"), and the species name means "beautiful" in Latin. Pollination has not been studied, but flower shape, particularly the nectar spur, indicates pollination by moths. T he roots are used in herbal medicine to make a paste for treating itching sores or as a tea to act as a diuretic.

The flower of the Silver Jewel Orchid is non-resupinate, with the arrow-shaped, yellow to pink-striped white lip poi nting upward and the greenish-brown, strap-like petals and sepals curling downward.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE

NATIVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Collabieae Somhern China, Somheast Asia, and northern Aus[ralia co dte Pacific islar)ds; escaped from cultivalion al'ld becoming invasive in Hawaii, Florida, and other suitably tropical areas Shady tObright wet-forest margins, from Si ngle-flowered

pendenr iflfloresce,lces, which

(SANDER EX MASTERS) Al\CI II I A, 2001

are shoner rhan the leaves

T he Green Lantern often hangs under branches, where its bluish-green, almost circular, flattened pseudobulbs produce conduplicate, narrowly lanceolate leaves. From the base of the pseudobulbs, several inflorescences emerge, largely covered by inflated bracts. The flowers are fragrant and long-lived and face downward. The genus name comes from Sudamerica, Spanish for South America, and Lycasce, the name of the genus from which these species were segregated, referring to the fact that, unlike Lycasu, this set of species is found exclusively in South America. Night-flying bees are specu lated

to

be the pollinators of

Sudamerlycasce dyeriana. Green and white flowers are nearly

always associated with insects active at night, and the flowers do not have the long, narrow nectar spur that is typical of flowers pollinated by moths.

The flower of the Green lantern has leathery, green to bluash·green petals and sepals form1ng a cup, the petals somewhat shorter than the sepals. The lip, also green, is fimbriate along the edge and has two upnght sidelobes and a saddle-shaped callus.

269

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

FLOWER SIZE

I

~in (1.3 em)

PLANT SIZE

8- 14 X 2- 3 in

TEUSCHER/A CORNUCOPIA

(20--36 x 5-8 em),

270

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Maxillariinae Ecuador Cloud forests, at 3,300-4,920 ft (1,000- 1,500 m) Epiphytic Not assessed March to May (spring)

ECUADOREAN CORN UCOPIA ORCHID

including single-flowered inAorescences 2-4 in ('>-10 em) long, which are much shorter dtan the leaves

Acntal

GARAY, 1958

size

The Ecuadorean Cornucopia Orchid has a long rhizome with widely spaced, rounded pseudobulbs, each carrying a single, narrowly lanceolate leaf basally enveloped by papery sheaths. It has an inflorescence with a single, upside-down, spurred flower. The genus is named for the orchidologist and landscape architect Henry Teuscher (1891- 1984), who was one of the founders of the Montreal Botanical Garden and its first curator. T he species and common names refer to the resemblance of the long tubular flower to a horn of plenty or cornucopia- in Greek mythology a broken goat's horn filled with whatever food its owner desired. Pollination of this species has not been studied . However, its flo ral morphology, with a broadly opening nectar spur, is consistent with pollination by a bee that receives the pollinia on

The f lower of the Ecuadorean Cornucopia Orchid has three forward-pointing, pale pink to white sepals. The similarly colored and sized petals are recurved, but the trilobed lip is shorter than the sepals and the mid lobe is shorter than the latera l two, wh ich ofte n have some pink striping.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Maxillariinae Nonhwestern Venez.uela to nonhern Peru Cloud forests, at 6 ,600-9,8~ ft (2,000-3,000 m) Ep iphy tic on mossy trunks; sometimes terrestrial on mossy b anks Nor assessed

De.:ember to February (winter)

FLOWER SIZE

l \i in ( 3cm) PLANT SIZE

10 18X 4-6 in

XYLOBIUM LEONTOGLOSSUM

(25--46 x 10-!Scm), excludir1g ir1Aorescence, which is ardting-erecc and sho ner than the leaves, 6-12 in (l5-30cm) long

LI ON'S MO UTH (REICHENBACII FILS) BENTHAM EX ROLFE, 1889

The Lion's Mouth forms a cluster of ovoid pseudobulbs, each carrying a single, plicate, long-stemmed, elliptic to lanceolate leaf at its apex. A lateral arching-erect, bracteate raceme is produced with l 0-30 loosely carried flowers. The genus name is derived from the Greek~/on for "wood," and bios, "living," refening to the epiphytic nature of the member species, whereas the common name is based on the species name, leo, meaning "lion," andglossum, "tongue." It has been observed that some Xylobium species are pollinated by stingless bees of the genus Trigona, but there are no observations for X.leontoglossum . No obvious reward is offered, and there is no spur, although the bases of the lateral sepals and lip do form an empty cavity. This species is also highly fragrant.

The flower of the Lion 's Mouth has red-spotted cream sepals that are spreading at their tips. Petals are strap-shaped and widely spread. The Iip has a cent ra l ridged callus and is trilobed, wi th the two lateral lobes clasping the short column.

Actual size

271

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT

TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Southeastern Brazil Transitional areas of dense uopicaJ forests to more open area~ at 650-2,300 ft (200-700 m) Epiphytic Not threatened Spring

FLOWER SIZE

ZY. in (7 em) PLANT SIZE

5- 10 X 3-5 in (13-25 x 8--13 em),

272

ASPASIA LUNATA

CRESCENT MOON

including erect to arching single-Aowered inflorescence 3-8 in (8 20 em) long

LINDLEY, 1836

The Crescent Moon, a member of a genus closely related to

Brassia and Miltonia, can form large localized populations and yet remain fairly rarely encountered. Primarily epiphytic, the species never receives full sunlight in nature. The genus is probably named for Aspasia, the lover and partner of the Athenian statesman Pericles, although Lindley was not clear about this when he originally described Aspasia in 1836. Also unclear are the reasons for the moon references in the species and common names. Although pollination has not so far been observed for th is species, another species in the genus, A. principissa, from Panama, was recorded as being pollinated by euglossine bees. Both male and female bees are attracted to the colorful fragrant flowers, seeking nectar in the (empty) cavity formed by the base of the lip and column.

The flower of the Crescent Moon has lanceolate, olive·green sepals and petals that are overlaid w ith mahogany spots and blotches. The flat, broad, white lip is par tly fused to the column. The m idlobe is stai ned purple to nearly blue and has two w hite keels leading up to the basa I cavity.

Acrual size

EPIOEN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Nicaragua, Costa Rica~ Panama, Ve-nezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru on bo~> sides of the Andes ·rropical rain fo,·esr;;_ at 985--4,920 fr (300-1,500 m) Epiphytic, rarely on steep embankments Not d1reatened Anytltne, but more often in summer

FLOWER SIZE

lOin (25cm), but in some plants Ule long sepalscan reacl1 nearly rwice this siz.e

BRASS/A ARCUIGERA

ARCHING SPIDER ORCHID 1\EIC HENBACH H LS, 1869

The flowers of the genus Brassia - and especially this species have extremely long natTow sepals and petals that are certainly evocative of large spiders, hence the common name. Sturdy and vigorous, with stout pseudobulbs and large lanceolate leaves, these orchids can produce prodigious inflorescences bearing 15 or more huge blooms atTanged alternately on large arching racemes (the species name reference). The genus was named for William Brass, an eighteenth-century illustrator and collector of Afti can plants. Female wasps, said to be attempting to sting the lip callus, have been observed as pollinators of Brassia flowers. T hese wasps paralyze spiders by first stinging and then laying eggs on them, leaving the larvae to consume the spider as their first meal. To human eyes, however, the lip of B . arcuigera does not appear patticularly spiderlike.

The flower of the Arching Spider Orchid has long, spidery segments of cha rtreuse to buff yellow, spotted irregularly w ith brown. The lip is spade-shaped and pa ler with an acuminate tip and brown spotting nea r the basal yellow ca IIus.

PLANT SIZE 12- 20X2- 3 i n (30-51 X

5-8 em), excluding

arching inAo resoence 20- 28 in (Sl-71 em) long

273

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Venez.uela, Colombia, and Ecuador Cold wet tropical forests, at6,601l-8,250 ft (2,000-2,500 m) Epiphytic Not threacened Late winter to early spring

FLOWER SIZE

1Y. in (3cm) PLANT SIZE

8- 14 X 8-12 in (lll-36 x lll-30cm), excluding arching

intlorescen.ce

274

BRASS/A AURANTIACA

ORAN GE CLAW (LINDLEY) M. W, CHASE, 2011

12- 20in (30- 51em) long, which is longer than the lec•ves

The flowers of the Orange Claw, unlike those of most Brassia species, do not open fully and are tightly bunched, with up to 18 flowers per stem. What the plants lack in individual flower form, they more than make up for in their displays of many brightly colored flowers. They grow in high-elevation, wet, cold forests, where the brilliant flowers stand out against the generally dark green background. T he plants form clusters of many elongate spindle-shaped pseudobulbs, which can each produce between one and three inflorescences. The Orange Claw is different from its closest relatives, the spider orchids, which make up the majority of Brassia members, and is the only Brassia adapted to pollination by hummingbirds. If the flower parts are forced open, then the resulting shape is similar to that of the typical spider orchid, with elongate sepals and petals.

The flower of the Orange Claw is brilliant orange with lanceolate-acum inate sepals and petals, occasionally with purplebrown spotting at their base.

Actual size

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE Epidendroideae

SUBFAMILY

Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae

TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE

Napo province in Ecuador, and French Guiana Low d cvation rain forests in deep shade

HABITAT

Epiphytic on mossy twigs, often in the canopy

TYPE AND PLACEMENT

CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Norassessed, but may be more common [han assumed as often overlooked and rarely collected Spring

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (0.6cm) PLANT SIZE

CALUERA VULPINA

PURPLE-SPOTTED LUERORC HID

I in (25 em) in diameter,

excluding inflorcseILS& Tl\lANA,I878

Even though most of the species of the genus Comparettia are miniature epiphytes, these bird and butterfly-pollinated orchids have brilliant, eye-catching coloration. T he Spotted Butterfly Orchid has long, graceful racemes of showy pink flowers with lovely purple-pink spots. It is named for its lengthy nectar spur, from the Greek words for "long" (macro) and "spur" (plectron) . Compareuia species offer a nectar reward to their pollinators, butterfl ies. The nectar, though, is not of good quality, with low sugar content, and therefore butterflies tend to visit these flowers sparingly and sporadically since this takes more energy than they receive in return. Now found mostly on rwigs of cultivated (often abandoned) fruit trees, the natural habitat of Comparettia species may actually be in tall forest trees. If, however, these trees are removed, the orchids move on to the cultivated trees

that replace them.

The flower of the Spotted Butterfly Orchid is generally various shades of pink, with a peppering of purple to dark pink spots. The petals and sepa Is are somewhat reduced, with a broad and round labell um and a long, backward ·projecting spur.

281

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cy mbidieae, Oncidiinae Venezuela and Colombia

Moderately wet forests, at 3,300-4l,200 ft (I ,000-2,500 m) Epiphytic Not threacened April to May (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

V. in (O.Scm) PLANT SIZE

4--6 X 2- 3 in

(10-15 x 5-8 em),

282

excluding laleral) arcl\ing r.o pendent inflorescence 3-6in(8 15 cm)long

COMPARETTIA OTTONIS

YELLOW SCOOP ORCHID (KLOTI.SCH) M. W. CliAS£& N. H. WILLIAMS, 2008

The Yellow Scoop Orchid produces small, cylindrical pseudobulbs, almost covered by large bracts, with a single, broadly lanceolate leaf on top. The inflorescence can bear up to 15 flowers. The common name refers to the shape of the blooms, which resemble a scoop used for flour or sugar. The species was formerly placed in the genus Scelochilus, which is named from the Greek words for skelos, "leg," and kheilos, "lip," referring to the two long, leg-like appendages on the base of the lip. The color, sweet fragrance, and shape of the flowers, with their short, backward-projecting spur, are compatible with pollination by a small bee (although this has not been observed, so far). The blooms do not open widely, but they do open enough to admit a small insect seeking the nectar produced by the pair of short horns in the spur.

The flower of the Yellow Scoop Orchid has narrowly lanceolate, bright yellow sepals and petals that form a narrow tube surrounding the lip and are marked by reddish-purple stripes inside. The lip is also yel low, with reddish marking, and is slightly longer than the tube. Actual size

EPIOEN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae \Vest and central Mexico~ in the staces ofjalisco, Michoacan,

and Sinaloa Pine-oak forests, at 4,600-7,200 ft ( I ,400- 2,200 m) Epiphytic Endangered as a result of ovcrcollcctingand habitat loss May to October (latespring to fall)

FLOWER SIZE

2in(5 cm) PLANT SIZE

CUITLAUZINA PENDULA

AZTEC KI N G lEXA.RZA, 18l;

The Aztec King has tightly clustered ovoid, laterally flattenedT pseudobulbs, each topped with two broad, leathery leaves. In the axils of a new g rowth, before the pseudobulb itself emerges, a pendent raceme carries 6-20, waxy, long-lived, lemon-scented flowers. In its natural habitat, the species can form large clumps that make an impressively beautiful display of pendent inflorescences. T he handsome genus is named for th e Aztec ki ng Cuit!ah uatzin, o r C uitlahuac,

(1476-1520), b rother of Montezuma and a noted d es igne r of early public garde ns in Mexico; the common name s im il arly references the Icing. Although nothing has been published on th e plant's pollination, the floral morphology- despite the white to pink flowers--is the same as many yellowflowered Oncidium species common in Mexico. T hese are pollinated by bees seeking floral oil to mix with pollen as food for their young, which may also occur in the Aztec King .

The flower of the Aztec King has white, broad petals and sepals that are someti mes pink or pink-suffused. The petals are shortly clawed, and the usually pi nk lip is narrow at its yellow and red -spotted base w ith two broad, apical lobes. The colu m n has wings and a hood.

&-1 2 x S-IO in (20-30 x 13-25 em), excluding pendenl intlorescences 10 30in (2>-76cm) long

283

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE Epidendroideae

SUBFAMILY

Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Norchwestern Soud1 America (Co lombia, Ecuador,

TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE

northern Peru) Cloud forests, up 109,850 ft(3,000 m)

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epiphytic NO! assessed

Throughout tlte year, but mainly from fall 10 spring

FLOWER SIZE

4in (l0cm) PLANT SIZE

12- 20 X 10 20 in (30-51 x 25-51 em),

excluding lateral, usually

CYRTOCHILUM MACRANTHUM

GOLDEN CLOUD ORCHID

vinelike inrlorescence,

284

{LINDLEY) KRAENZLIN, 1917

whjch canbe

30-140 in (76-356 cm) long

The spectacular Golden Cloud Orchid produces clumps of conical pseudobulbs that are enveloped in several leaf-bearing sheaths and topped with two linear-oblong leaves. A lateral, stout, branched inflorescence rambles through the surrounding vegetation, each side branch carrying up to five large flowers. Although the genus name comes from the Greek words for "curved lip," cyrtos and cheilos, this characteristic is not true of this particular species. The orchid is pollinated by Centris bees, which normally collect floral oils that are mixed with pollen from other plant species (not orchids) and fed to their young. However, the Golden Cloud Orchid does not produce floral oils, so this is a case of deceit. T he 140 or so species of Cyrwcltilum are distinguished from Oncidium, where they used to be placed, by their often elongate rhizomes, pseudobulbs that are round in cross section rather than flattened, and their rambling or twining inflorescences.

The flower of t he Golden Cloud Orchid has large, y ellowish-brown or yellow, spread ing, c lawed sepals and petals. The yellow lip is triangular, w ith its latera l tips blood -red to purple, and bears an intricate series of horns and protubera nces. The column has two wings.

Acrual size

EPIOEN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Nonhwestern South America, Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rioo Humid forests, at I ,970-6,600 ft (600-2,000 m) Epiphytic Norassessed December to March (late winter to early spring)

FLOWER SIZE

%in (I. Scm) PLANT SIZE

CYRTOCHILUM MEIRAX

EN CHANTED D ANCING LAD Y ( REICHENBACH r!LS) DALSTR0.\1, 2000

4-10 X 3-6 in

(10--25 x 8-15cm), excluding erect inflorescence, which is usually taller than the leaves, 6--15 in (15-3Scm) long

A single lanceolate or linear leaf tops the bright green, ovoidcompressed pseudobulbs of the Enchanted Dancing Lady. The inflorescence has a zigzag, flattened stem, which is triangular in cross section. This arises from the leaf sheath b eside a mature pseudobulb. As in many related species, the several, long-lasting flowers produce oil, and this is a putative reward for oil-collecting Centris and related genera of bees that pollinate the flowers. There may be enough oil to attract the bees but not enough to reward them, in which case this is a form of deceit pollination. The common name of the orchid refers to the common name of the genus Oncidium (dancing ladies), in which this species was formerly included. The epithet comes from the Greek

meirax, meaning "enchanting."

The flow er of t he Enchanted Dan cing Lady has yellow, red -brown spotted, clawed sepals and slightly shorter and broader spreadi ng petals. The yellow lip is broadly spade-shaped with a prom inent callus and m any reddish-brown spots.

Actual size

285

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae \Vestern South America., from Ecuador [0 northern Peru Wet cloud and dfin (dwarf) forests, at6,600-9,850 ft (2,000-3,000 m) Epiphytic on mossy trees or terrestrial on steep slopes Not assessed Summer to fall

FLOWER SIZE

Y, in (L5cm) PLANT SIZE

286

20- 35 X 20 .3() in (51--$9 x 51-76cm), excluding erect-arching hranched 1nAorescence 30 55 in (76 140 em) long,

CYRTOCHILUM TRICOSTATUM

YELLOW SPADE ORCHID KRAENZLIN, 1922

which is longer !han dte leaves

The large, conical pseudobulbs of the Yellow Spade Orchid are partially covered by several overlapping leaf-bearing sheaths and topped by two apical, narrowly elongate leaves. From a leaf axil of a mature pseudobulb, a much-branched inflorescence with zigzag side branches emerges and carries many fleshy flowers with a spade-shaped lip-hence the common name. The small size of the flowers makes a stark contrast to the overall substantial proportions of the plant. The genus name comes from the Greek cynos, "curved," and cheilos, " lip." In the high-elevation, misty habitats that Cyrtochilum tricostatum inhabits, there are not many oil-producing plants, but the species still appears to be mimicking such flowers to attract oilcollecting bees. T he plant does not actually produce any oil, so it is another case of pollination by deceit.

The flower of t he Yellow Spade Orchid has bright yellow, clawed, spoon-shaped sepals and broader, upright, spreading petals. The yellow to orangish lip is spade-shaped, with a thickened call us, and the column is sometimes reddish -brown.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Colombia (Cundinarnarca depan mem) Cloud forests, at arow>d 6,600 ft (2,000 m) Epiphy tic o n mo ist b ranches in shade

Norassessed March

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (0.6 cm) PLANT SIZE

ELOYELLA CUNDINAMARCAE

T HINGUMY ORCHID (J>. ORTIZ) J>. ORTIZ, 1979

:.1. X 1 in ( l.3X 2.5cm),

excluding inflorcse-3.8cm)

295

The miniature Hinton's Orchid has small globose pseudobulbs, each with three or four basal leaf-bearing sheaths and carrying a single, sulcate terminal leaf. From the base of the pseudobulb, the plant makes one or two arching racemes with up to six small, sweetly fragrant, delicate but long-lasting flowers. The genus was named in honor of the metallurgist turned botanist George Boole Hinton (1882-1943), who collected botanical specimens from 1931 through 1941, including many orchids, in some of the most inaccessible parts of Guerrero, Michoacin, and Mexico states. Pollination has not been studied, but the presence of oil and glandular hairs (elaiophores) in the lip cavity indicates that the species is pollinated, like the related genus OmiJJwceplwlus, by bees of the Anthophoridae fam ily. T he insects mix the oil with pollen of other plants to feed their larvae.

Actual size

The flower of Hinton's Orchid has spread ing white petals and sepals that form a bell. The white lip has some yellow spots or stripes and is broadly triangular, with ro unded sides, a rounded tip, a central stalked ridge, and a hair-filled cavity.

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Norchwestern Soud1 America, from Venezuela to Peru

Cloud forests, at 5,250-7,875 ft (1,600-2,400 m) Epiphytic on e- 1 in (20- 36 x 1.3-2.5 cm),

excluding:shorllerminal inflorescences 1- 2 in (2.5-5 em) long

(UNOL£Y) REICHl:NOACH FILS, 1852

The Half-moon Braided Orchid is well known due to the novelty ofits closely overlapping short leaves. Flowers appear over many years on between one and three-flowered short racemes with large pale green concave floral bracts near the apex of the oftenpendent growths. The species derives its name lunifera from the half-moon-shaped lateral lobes of its lip, which arch up over the column. The genus is named for David Lockhart ( 178~ 1845), the first superintendent of the botanic gardens in Trinidad, who collected the material upon which the genus was based. Like other species ofLockhartia, the Half-moon Braided Orchid produces oil on its complicated lip callus, which attracts oilcollecting Centrir bees. The flowers are also thought to mimic those of the unrelated family Malpighiaceae, which has similarly bright yellow flowers that are pollinated by oil-collecting bees.

The flower of the Half-moon Braided Orchid is bright yellow with chestnut-brown to reddish markings in the cen ter of the lip and the upwardly curving lateral lobes of the lip. The flower orientation is random, with some upside down as well as with the lip lowermost

Acrual size

301

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Mesorunerica and nort1twestern South America Wet forests, from sea level to 985 ft (300m) Epiphytic on trees Not assessed february to March (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

I in (2.5 em) PLANT SIZE 7~-14 X I ~-2~ in

(19-35 x ~.S cm), excluding i1ttlorescence, which is about as long as the leaves and pendent

302

MACRADENIA BRASSAVOLAE

FIREWORKS ORCHID REICHENDACii FILS. IS; z

The Fireworks Orchid has elongate pear-shaped pseudobulbs. Each pseudobulb carries a single oblong, leathery leaf, and from its base a pendent raceme up to 12 in (30 em) long with many sweetly fragrant flowers is produced, together creating an effect like a fireworks display. The members of this genus are twig orchids that grow on the smallest branches of trees and shrubs. Like that of the closely related genera Notylia and Macroclinium, pollination of Macradenia species is canied out by male euglossine bees that seek floral fragrance compounds. Given the small size of the flowers relative to the euglossine bees that visit them, the pollinaria are most likely attached to the feet of the bees as they move around the inflorescence, seeking a good place to try to scrape the fragrance compounds from the floral tissue.

AcruaJ size

The flower of the Fireworks Orchid has linear, yellow-edged, reddish-brown (chestnut) sepals and petals, and a m uch shorter, narrow, tri lobed lip, with a linear terminal lobe and broad sidelobes surround ing the column.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Cosm Rica and Panama Wctf()f('sts, from sea levelto 1,300 ft (400m) Epiphytic Nor assessed December to January (winter)

SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

FLOWER SIZE ~in (l cm)

PLANT SIZE

I

MACROCLINIUM ALLENIORUM

PINK FAN ORCHID

peodeoc inflorescence I ~-2~ in (3.8-Q.S em) long

DRESSLER & PUPULIN, 1996

The tiny Pink Fan Orchid produces a flat fan of overlapping leaves that continues to grow from its apex rather than forming new side growths every year. Plants prod uce a raceme that sometimes branches and carries several relatively large, spidery flowers in tight clusters. The genus name reflects the long, pointed tip of the column, from the Greek makros, " long," and

kline, "couch," which refers to the flat structure on which the pollinarium sits. The species name honors the American botanist Paul H. Allen ( 1911 - 63), who studied the orchids of Panama.

Macroclinium species are pollinated by male

(

euglossine bees- an improbable relationship, given the relatively huge size of the insects compared to the small flowers. T he pollinaria are attached to the feet of the bees as they climb over the inflorescences looking for fragrance compounds to collect.

)

Actual size

I ~X I - I ~in

(2.5-3.8 x 2.5-3.8 em), excluding tigJrdy clustered

The f lower of the Pi nk Fan Orch id has long, thin, poin ted, greenish·pink peta ls and sepals, the petals being pink spotted. The pink lip is sometimes also spotted and shortly sta Iked and has a tongue·shaped limb. The thin colum n has an enlarged anther cap.

303

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Southeastern Brazil

Wet forests, at 1,64il-2,625 ft (501)-800 m) Epiphytic

Not threatened Summer

FLOWER SIZE

4in (JOcm) PLANT SIZE 8- 15 X 6-8 in

MILTON/A SPECTABILIS

(21l-38 x J5-20cm), excluding single-flowered

SPECTACULAR BIG LIP

intlorescence

304

LINDLEY, 1837

12- 20 in (30 51 em) long

Spectacular Big Lip is a wonderfully variable species in its coloration. The plants form loose clusters of elongate flattened pseudobulbs with thin folded leaves, and flower stems covered in large bracts emerge from the bases of the pseudobulbs. T he genus was named in honor of Charles William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, Viscount Mil ton ( 1786- 1857), a patron of horticulture and orchid enthusiast. T he species name, spectahilis, is Latin for "notable" or "remarkable." T he dark purple-colo red "form" of Miltonia spectahilis, formerly var. moreliana, is now considered to be a d istinct species, M. moreliana. Both species have the flower morphology that is typically found in yellow flowers with brown spots-as encountered in most species of genus Oncidium-which is associated with pollination by oil-collecting bees. The fl owers do not produce oil, so these plants are pollinated by deceit.

Acnm1size

The flower of Spectacular Big lip has pi nk to lavender,lanceolate sepals and petals, a large, broad, flat lip with purple veins that bleed out onto the surface near the base, and a yel low callus just in fron t of the colu mn.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Cundinamarca and Norte deSanmnderdeparonentsofColomhia Wet forests, at 3,950- 5,250 ft (1 ,200--1,600 m) Epiphytic Nor d>reatened At any time) bm more often in late summer to fall

FLOWER SIZE

2\1 in (6.5 em) PLANT SIZE

MILTONIOPSIS PHALAENOPSIS

8- 14 X 4-7 in (20-36 x 10-18cm),

BUTTERFLY-LIPPED ORC HID

including erect to arching inflorescence 7-12 in (18- 30cm) long, which is

(UNOEN & REICHENBACH F'I LS)CAJ\AY & OUNSTERVILL£, 1976

about as long as the leaves

The Butterfly-lipped Orchid, which carries between three and five flowers per stem, has one of the most cmi ously patterned lips in the orchid family. Bees have been reported to pollinate other species in this genus, but the exact reasons for such a striking lip pattern, presumably an elaborate set of nectar guides, are unclear. Also, the lip is totally flat when most bee-pollinated species have a lip that to a degree surrounds the column. Pollination by bees at night has also been reported. T he genus name refers to the genus Miltonia ( -opsis means "similar to") in which this species was previously classified. The species name is a reference to the genus Phalaenopsisthe moth orchids- named for their similarity to, but not pollination by, moths.

The flower of the Butterf ly-l ipped Orchid is al most perfectly flat and has white (rarely pa le pi nk) sepals and peta ls. The extraordi nary lip is large and shaped like a butterfly with a com plex set of purple· red and yellow markings on a white background.

Actual size

305

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae

Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama Wet forests, at 1,300-3,300 ft (40~1,000 m) Epiphytic

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened

FLOWERING TIME

Summer to fall

FLOWER SIZE

4in (!Ocm) PLANT SIZE 12 20x8 lOin

MILTONIOPSIS ROEZL/1

(30-51 x 2~25 em), excludingarcltirtg-erect inrlorescence

306

PANSY ORCHID (BULL) GODEFROY-LEDEUF, 1889

1~20 in (25 51 em) long

Hailing from lower elevations than most other members in the genus, the Pansy Orchid is also one of the most spectacular species in South America. One or more inflorescences can bear seven to ten flo~rers at a time, producing an amazing sight. This species is also well known for its gray green leaves and highly flattened pseudobulbs. The genus name has the ending -opsis, meaning "similar to," in this case to the genus Miltonia, with which the species of Miltoniopsis share their unusual flat flowers. T he petals have characteristic contrasting brilliant purple eyespots, giving the flowers the appearance of a face, similar to the face-like flowers of pansies- hence the common name. Pollination is by large bees, and some observations have indicated that this might even take place at night.

The flower of the Pansy Orch id has wh ite lanceolate sepals and petals, although the latter have purple-red bases. The broad, showy lip has a slightly raised crest decorated with yellow to orange stripes and blotches and a small pair of poin ted basal lobes.

Actual size

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Central America (from southern Mexico to Honduras) and northern Brazil Humid and seasonally dry foresrs, sv.•amp~ and co flee planra[ions,

below 5,900 ft (1,800 m) Epiphy tic on trees and shrubs Nor assessed April ro May (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

%in(O.Scm) PLANT SIZE

5-9X4-8in

NOTYLIA BARKER/

GREEN KN OB ORCHID

( 13-23 x 10-20 em),

excluding pendenl intlorescences

liNDlEY, 1838

6 10in(1 5--25cm) long

The curious miniature Green Knob Orchid has a cluster of ellipsoid, flattened pseudobulbs, each basally enveloped in sheathing leaves and topped with a single tongue-shaped leaf. An axillary, rarely branched inflorescence carries many densely packed, fragrant flowers arranged in tight spirals. There are two forms, with either free or fused lateral sepals, sometimes recognized as distinct species. The genus name comes from the Greek notos, "back," and tylo, "knob," referring to the swollen apex of the column that points backward. The common name also refers to this prominent aspect of the flowers of this species. Male euglossine bees searching for floral fragrances are the pollinators, with several species of Notylia often pollinated by the same bee species (Euglo~·su ·viridissimu). However, because pollinia are deposited on different parts of the bee's body, the species remain separate.

The flower of the Green Knob Orchid has cupped, green to ora nge-green sepals, the upper one arching over the flower. The spreading, darkly spotted petals are falcate. The lip is usually w hite or at least paler and shorter than the sepals and arrowhead-shaped.

Acrual size

307

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Norcltwestern Colombia (Western Cordillera, ChoOO, and Valle de l Cauca regi ons) foresrs, at 4,300 ft ( I ,300m) Epiphytic Not assessed November

FLOWER SIZE ~in(0.7cm)

PLANT SIZE

3-4 Xl in

NOTYLIOPSIS BEATRICIS

(8-10 x 2.5 em),

HAPPY ORCHID

excluding arching-pendent inrlorescen.ce

308

J>. ORTIZ, 1996

4-6in( I0-15cm) long

The Happy Orchid is a tiny epiphyte with small, sheathenveloped pseudobulbs topped with a single leaf and a pendent, few-flowered raceme growing from the axil of the leaf. The genus name comes the purported floral similarity of its member species to the genus Notylia (the Greek -opsis means "looking like"). However, based on DNA studies, the two genera are not closely related, so the similarity is perhaps due to adaptation to similar pollinators. The species name is derived from the Latin beatricem, meaning" one who makes happy," which is also referenced in the common name. This little orchid was discovered fairly recently, and its floral morphology is unlike any other in the sub tribe Oncidiinae. From DNA studies, its closest relative appears to be Zelenkou. onustu., which has a similar plant habit but a completely different floral morphology.

The flower of the Happy Orchid has boat-shaped, greenish sepals, the upper one arching over the flower, the la teral two fused and held behind. The simi larly colored linear peta ls are spreadi ng and the bulging lip is slipper-shaped and pinkish-green.

Acn1aJsize

EPIOEN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMI LY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Ecuador to Peru

Tropical forests, at 3, 300-7,545 ft (1 ,000--2,300 m) Epiphy tic at tl>e base o f tree tronks or near ly terrest rial Nor assessed July co October (summer to fall)

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (2cm) PLANT SIZE

8- 14 X 5-8 in

OLIVER/ANA BREVILABIA

GREEN LANTERN ORCHID (CHAI\LESSCH\V£1N>U llTH) Ol\£SSL£l\& N. W. WILLIAMS, 1970

( 20-36 x 13-20cm),

excluding basal iJttlorescence, wltich is longer than rlte leaves at 16-28 in (41 -71 em) long

The Green Lantern Orchid has a pair of sheathing leaflike bracts that envelop an elliptic, flattened pseudobulb bearing two linear, fo lded leaves. A much-branched (paniculate) inflorescence appears from the basal bract and carries l 0-35 flowers. The common name reflects the plant's luminous green flowers, and the genus name is in honor of Daniel Oliver (1830-1916), a Keeper of the Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ke·w, London. The genus Oliveriana is closely related to Systeloglossum, also part of the Oncidium alliance (sub tribe Oncidiinae). The orchid is probably pollinated by some type of bee, but no pollinator has yet been observed. It has a two-parted stigmatic cavity and pollen masses that are widely spaced on their shared stalk, features usually associated with bird pollination. However, the green color and habitat preferences suggest this is unlikely.

The flower of the Green Lantern Orchid has th ree elongate, green sepals that point d irectly up or down, and two shorter, forward-arch ing petals. The green lip is short, three-lobed, and partially fused to a broad, hooded column.

Acrual size

309

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Western South America, from southern Colombia to Ecuador Cloud forests, at 3,950-9,500 ft (1,200-2,900 m) Epiphytic Not formally assessed October to December (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

4in (!Ocm) PLANT SIZE

10- 18 X 8 14 in

310

(25--46 x 20-36cm), excludingarcltirtg-erect inrlorescence 12- 24 in (30-61 em) tall

The flower of the Cu rly Spider Orchi d has white, brown -spotted sepals and peta ls with wavy margi ns and long, curly tips. The lip has two yellow latera l lobes and a terminal one that is sim ila r to the sepals and peta ls. There are two antenna-like projections on the lip callus.

ONCIDIUM CIRRHOSUM

CURLY SPIDER ORCHID (LINDLEY) BEER, 1851

The Curly Spider Orchid forms clusters of oblong-ovoid, flattened pseudobulbs that are basally enveloped by two or three pairs of overlapping, leaftike sheaths. T he pseudobulbs each carry a single, linear-oblong to elliptic-oblong leaf. From the base ofa mature pseudobulb, an upright raceme, sometimes with small branches, emerges. This can bear up to 20 white, spidery flowers. Its common and species names are derived from the Latin cirratus, meaning "curled." T he flowers of this species are likely to be pollinated by bumblebees or carpenter bees, which would be required to push through the opening between the lip and column, although this has not been verified by observations in nature and no nectar is produced. Oru:idium cirr/w;;wn was formerly placed in the genus Odontoglossum, which is now united with Oncidium because of a close genetic relationship between the species.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae \Vestern Souch America, from Antioctuia depanruent in Colombia to Peru Edges o f forests, at 2.300-9,850 ft (700-3,000 m) Epiphytic

Not formally assessod De, ar 7,545--9.850 fr (2,'300-3,000 m) TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS rLOWERING TIME

Epiphytic 'or~

Much 10 ~plember (springand fall)

rLOWERSIZE

2in(5cm) PlANT SIZE

2 3 X 2 4 in

TELIPOGON HAUSMANN/ANUS

(5-8 X 5-lOcm),

MARIP OSA O RC HID

excluding erecr-arching i•1~1oresce•1ces

REICIIENBACII FILS, 1861

2 4 in (5 lOcm) roll

l

Finding one of these small beau ties emerging from the mists of their native cloud forests is one of the greatest thrills for any orchid lover. Sadly, d1e Mariposa Orchid is difficult to maintain in cultivation. It has a short stem, covered by a few elliptic leaves, and large cupped petals with a netted pattern, reminiscent of the mariposa lily (genus Calochortu.r) or a butterfly (mariposa in Spanish)-hence its common name. The genus name comes from the Greek telos, "end," and pogon, "beard," referring to the hairs around the base of the column, which play an important role in pollination. Telipogon lzau.sman.nianus is pollinated by male tachinid flies, which mistake the Aowers for females of their species. Pollinia are then placed on the feet of the aroused visitors, whose subsequent amorous visits effect pollen transfer.

The flower of the Mari posa Orchid has three narrow sepals almost hrdden behrnd the broad petals and lip. The color rs yellow, wrth reddishpurple netted venatiOn. More darkly colored basal spots on the petals or hp are covered rn long dark hairs.

Acrualsize

333

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Norchwestern Soud1 America, Ecuador, Colombia,

and rtordl..:,•esterr) Venezuela HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Cloud foresrs, a! 4,300-7,545 fr ( 1, 300- 2,300 m) Epiphyric Nor assessed Throughout tlte year

FLOWER SIZE ~in(0.6cm)

PLANT SIZE 1- 2X 1- 2in (2.5-5 x 2.5-5 em),

334

excludingarcltirtg-erect inrlorescence >-4 in (7.5-10 em) long

TELIPOGON WILLIAMS/I

BEARDED LADY 1'. ORTIZ, 2008

This little epiphyte grows on small moss-covered branches with a few leaves and no obvious pseudobulb. The inflorescence AcruaJsiu

carries up to five d iminutive, fly like flowe rs produced ind ividually over a period of several months. T he lip of the species is so like a female tachinid fly that it is visited by males that attempt copulation and pollinate the flower during their passion. Pollinia are attached to their legs, and the pollen masses contact the stigma during the next amorously deceitful visit. T he Bearded Lady was previously considered to be in the genus

The f lower of the Bearded Lady has two tiny lateral sepals, a larger, recurvi ng m iddle sepal, two spreading petals, and a larger lip with a Wilrty r.illl lls. ThP. r.olor is yP.IIowi!)h-grP.P.n w ith reddish-brown spots and a large, warty area on the lip in front of the hooked column.

Ste!lilabium, but in 2005 its members were shown to be merely smaller species of Telipogon, and the two genera were then combined. They share the same bearded or warty patch on the base of the lip, which is referenced in the genus name, from the Greek telos, "end," andpogon, "beard."

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT

CONSERVATION STATUS

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Oncidiinae Dominican Republic

Dry cactus scrub and dry subtropical forests Epiphytic Nor assessed, but rare widt res~:ricced range; several sires have been

made nature rcs(·rves, and reintroduction programs arc in action FLOWERING TIME

De:>pemlinae Colombia (deparonem of Amazonas) Rain foresrs, ttt 330-650 ft (1 00-200 m) Epiphytic Not assessed Late winter to spring

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (2cm) PLANT SIZE

4--8 X 3-6 in (1(1-20 x 8--!Scm),

IXYOPHORA CAR/NATA

FAUN ORCHID

excluding inf1oresct;mce,

382

which is sltorrer d1an the leaves

(ORTIZ VALDIVIESO) DRESSLER, 2005

The Faun Orchid occurs in wet forests and does not have pseudobulbs to store water for dry periods. A short stem is covered by overlapping, sheathing leaves, in the axils of which are formed one or two single-flowered inflorescences. The genus name comes from the Greek for having a narrow waist (ixys, "waist," and phorein, "bearing") in reference to the narrow middle part of the pollinarium (the pollen-bearing structure in these orchids). The flower, with its curled, backward-projecting sepals, resembles the horned head of a faun, a creature from Greek mythology. Like its close relatives in the genus Chaubardiella, for which pollination has been studied, this unstudied species probably forms false nectar horns (the backward-projecting sepals) that are probed by nectar-seeking bees.

Acnml size

The flower of the Faun Orchid has two reflexed , spur-like, pale yellow sepals and one si m ilar sepa I poi nted forward. The pale yellow petals are falcate and spreading, and the whitish Iip has a wi ne-red central blotch with a wide open ing partly surrou nding the broad column.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Zygoperalinae Colombia and northern Venezuela Dense wet forests, at 3,300-5,900 ft (1 ,000- 1,800 m) f>piphy tic on tree tru nks

Norassessed May to September (summer to fall), but flowers may also occasionally appear at other times

FLOWER SIZE

1Yz in(4cm) PLANT SIZE

6 IOX 6-10in

KEFERSTEINIA GRAMINEA

FRIN GED GRASS ORCHID

(15-25 x 15-25 em), i rlcludingarchir~g-pendenl 1

single-flowered inflorescence 2-4 in ( 5 IOcm) long

(UNDLEY) REICHENllACH FILS, 18>2

The lovely Fringed Grass Orchid prod uces tight clusters of short stems carrying a fan of four or five linear-lanceolate leaves with several basal leafless b racts. From the axils of these bracts, up to 20 short inflorescences with one flower each appear, with no detectable scent. The genus was named in honor of Herr Keferstein ofKrollwitz, Germany, who was well known during the peak of orchid ologist Hein rich Gustav Reichenbach's activity (1850-89). The common name alludes to the grasslike leaves and heavily fti nged lip. Euglossine bees are the pollinators of this species, as they are of other species in this and related genera. Here, pollen becomes attached to the base of the antennae when the bee is forced to twist its body around due to the prominent tooth on the underside of the column.

Ac.ruaJsiz.e

The f lower of the r ri nged Grass Orch id has purple·spotted, pale green lanceolate sepals and peta Is of si m ilar size. The lip is broad and curves arou nd the column with complex folds and a finely fringed, wavy margin. The callus has two ra ised folds.

383

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Zygopemlinae Norchern South America., south to Peru and nonhero Brazil, t1le Cuianas, Tri11idad, and Pueno Rico Humid, monrane, deciduou~ and evergreen forestS Terrestrial (rarely epiphyOphytic Nor formally assessed, bur probably rltrearened by deforestation

FLOWERING TIME

Oetobe r to january (spring to early summer)

FLOWER SIZE

2 in (5 cm) PLANT SIZE

PABST/A JUGOSA

HAWK ORCHID (UNDLEY) GARAY, 1873

The Hawk Orchid produces a cluster of ovoid, slightly compressed, nearly smooth pseudobulbs, each topped with two or three elongate-lanceolate leaves. On new growths, an upright inflorescence grows, with up to four highly fragrant flowers. The genus is closely related to Zygopetalum, from which it differs in minor characteristics. The purple-spotted petals contrast strongly with the white sepals, and together with the column, which forms the "head," these resemble a bird of prey in flight, hence the common name. T he genus name honors the renowned Brazilian orchidologist, Guido Pabst ( 1914-80), founder of the Herbarium Bradeanum studied, but it is likely that the pollinators are male euglossine bees seeking floral fragrance compounds.

The flower of the Hawk Orchid has fleshy, spreading, white sepals and petals, the latter with reddish-purple spots and bars. The white, blue-ma rked lip is fan-shaped with the edges curved down. The anther cap is large and conspicuous.

9 15 X 6-12 in

(23-38 x 15-30cm), excluding i11Aorescence, '1\•hich is nearly aJ,.•ays shorter d1an the leaves

385

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Zygopemlinae Southeas[ern Brazil from Rio de janeiro to Santa Catarina s tate

sites in seasonally dey lorcs1s Terrestrial

Shad y

Not assessed November to December ( lace spring to early summer)

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (2cm) PLANT SIZE

8- 16 X 6-10 in

(20--41 x 15-25cm), excluding erectlnflorescence 12-25 in (30-64 em) mil

PARADISANTHUS MICRANTHUS

SMALL PARADISE ORCHID (BARBOSA RODRIGUEZ) SCHLECHTER, 1918

386

The Small Paradise Orchid is a terrestrial orchid with small ovoid pseudobulbs, each bearing between one and three elongate lanceolate leaves. It produces an unbranched stem (rarely a small side branch) carrying between 8 and 20 flowers. T he genus name comes from the Greek words paradeisos, "paradise" or "garden," and antlws, "flower." The blooms, although not large, are attractive, hence the common name. The species name is the Greek for "small flower." Pollination has not been studied in any of the five species of

Paradisamhus, but they are similar to other orchids pollinated by fragrance-collecting male euglossine bees and offer no other reward. The Atlantic Forest area in which the Small Paradise O rchid occurs is a renowned biodiversity hotspot, which has largely been converted to farming.

The flower of the Small Paradise Orch id has simi lar, spreading, green to yellow, red -spotted sepals and peta ls, the sepals being the larger. The wh ite lip is spade-shaped and has a cavi ty just below the column and a bl ue-marked call us that forms a cha nneI w ith the colum n.

Actual size

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Zygopetalinae Colombia Extremely foggy, montane forests

Epiphytic Nor assessed

March to july(springtosummer)

FLOWER SIZE

3in(7.5cm) PLANT SIZE

12- 20in(30 ~51 em),

PESCATORIA COELESTIS

includingsinglc~flowcr:>pemlinae Minas Gerais and Espirito Samo states of Brazil Mid-dcvation cool, wet tropical forests Epiphytic, sometimes li thophy tic on mossy rocks

Not threatened Spring to summer

FLOWER SIZE

IY. in(4.5cm) PLANT SIZE

3 6X 3-Sin (8-15 x 8-13 cm),

excludlngpender)t inflorescence, " hich

PROMENAEA STAPEL/0/DES

BLACK-SPOTTED ORCHID

1

388

(UNK & OTTO) LINDLEY, 1843

is shorter than the leaves, 2-4 in (5-IOcm) long

The species name of the distinctive Black-spotted Orchid, which grows in cool, shady forested regions in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, refers to its resemblance to African carrion flowers of the genus Stapelia-although the plant does not smell like a dead animal or attract flies as pollinators. Instead, this diminutive orchid, with glossy pseudobulbs and usually a pair of graygreen elongate apical leaves, emits a sweet, complex fragrance from its comparatively large flowers. Male euglossine bees pollinate the orchid, collecting fragrance The flower of the Black-spotted Orchid is proportionately large and showy. Sepals and petals are yellow green or pale green, usually heavily overlaid with purplish-brown marki ngs, ~omPti mP~ r.oin (10-IScm) long

A remarkably variable species, with some beautiful forms and unusual colors, the Cedar-chip Orchid has, like many other orchids ofsubtribe Zygopetalinae, fan-shaped growths and no pseudobulbs, indicative of it coming from continuously wet habitats. Erect to slightly arching inflorescences arise from leaf axils and carry exquisite solitary flowers with a tubular lip that, in some forms, is an intensely dark, cobalt violet-blue, whereas in others it approaches rosy pink The flower shape and unusual fragrance are compatible with pollination by male euglossine bees that are seeking floral fragrance compounds, from which they make pheromones to attract females. The floral fragrance has been variously described, but cedarwood or cedar chips are often invoked, hence the common name. The genus was named after J6zef Warszewicz (1812- 66), an eminent Polish botanist.

The flower of the Cedar-chip Orchid has sepals that are m ostly sharply recurved and usually pale green to cream. The petals are simi lar or whiter, but they can be flushed with pale violet. The tubular lip is highly variable but often dark cobalt blue.

EPIOEN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Zygopetalinae Colombia~ Venezuela, and Panama Rain foresiS,at l65-1,640 ft (50- 500 m) Epiphytic Nor clueatened December to july, but can flower at any time

FLOWER SIZE 2~ in(6. 5 cm)

PLANT SIZE

WARCZEWICZELLA MARGINATA

PURPLE-LIPPED FA N ORC HID

8 12X 6-10 in (2l}-3() x 15-25cm), including erecl-arching, single-flowered inflorescence 3-5 in (75- 13 em) long

1\EICHENBACH H LS, 18S2

The Purple-lipped Fan Orchid produces flowers singly on short stems between the leaves, with no pseudobulbs to store water because it g rows in perpetually wet forests. T he genus was named after J6zefWarszewicz Ritter von Rawicz (18 12-66), a Polish botanist, biologist, and plant and animal collector who was particularly interested in orchids, w hich he supplied to the great German orchidologist H. G. Reichenbach for description. T he fragrant flowers, with pale violet markings, have a broad, saclike lip and prominent nectar guides. T hey are typical nectardeceit blooms, with the lateral sepals incurved and projecting backward to form a false nectar spur to which the tongue of a euglossine bee gains access through a hole on each side of the lip. The species attracts both male and female bees searching for nectar.

The flower of the Purple-lipped ran Orchid has w hite, lanceolate petals and dorsal sepa ls, with the lateral sepaIs narrower and projecting behind. The lip has lateral margins c urled arou nd the column, and there are several central, violet keels with a white-ridged basal call us and a darker p urple margin.

Acrual size

39 1

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Zygopem1inae Tropical South America, from Venezuela to northern Argentina and southeastern 13ratil Shaded understory o f dense wet foresrs, at l ,970-3,300 ft (600--1,000 m)

TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Terrestrial (rarely epiphytic) in leaf matter Not assessed

I july t September (summer t early fall)

FLOWER SIZE

I Y, in (3.8 em) PLANT SIZE

25-40 X 12 20 in (64-102 x 30-51 em),

WARREA WARREANA

BEAUTY OF THE FOREST

excluding erect lnflorescence :i0-50 in (76--1 27 em) rail

(LODDIGES EX LINDLEY) SCIIWEINFURTH, 1955

392

The Beauty of the Forest forms tight clusters of ovoid pseudobulbs that are hidden by several large leaf-bearing bracts with one

£O

three terminal leaves, all of which are

narrowly lanceolate with multiple folds. The inflorescence is taller than the leaves, holding the flowers well aloft and making these beautiful white to cream-colored blooms easily spotted in the shady reaches of the forests in which they occur, giving rise to the common name. The genus and species names both refer to the English explorer and collector Frederick Warre, who discovered Warrea warreana during an expedition to Brazil in around 1820. Pollination has not been studied, but the strong fragrance and floral features make fragrance -collecting male euglossine bees the likely pollinators. The large lip and heavy pigmentation feature heavily in the attraction of insects to the species.

The flower of the Beauty of the Forest has w hite to cream sepals and petals that are all broadly Ia nceolate and forward projecting, sometimes w ith a pink suffusion. The lip is also white but with a dark purple to rosy pink center and a Ia rge, ridged call us.

Actual size

EPIOEN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Cymbidieae, Zygopetalinae Anrioquia depanment (Colombia) Well-drained slopes in forest understory, at 6,600-7,875 ft (2,000- 2,400 m) Terrest rial in decaying leaf maner in moderate shade Not assessed April to September ( spring tO fall)

FLOWER SIZE

2 in (5cm) PLANT SIZE

15- 35 X 18- 30 in (38-89 x ~76 em),

WARREELLA PATULA

PINK WOOD NYMPH

excludir)g erect inAorescence 25 50 in (64 127 em) mil

GARAY, 197>

The P ink Wood Nymph forms large clusters of obovoidT pseudobulbs that bear several leaf-bearing basal bracts and between one and three terminal leaves, all of which have many folds. The extensive root system ranges through the accumulated layers of tree leaves on the forest floor, and its upright inflorescence bears 6-12 open-faced flowers that catch the sun as it breaks through the tree canopy above. T he common name refers to its shaded forest habitat, whereas the genus name alludes to its similarity to the related genus Warrea. The species name-the Latin word for "wide open"-refers to the flowers not being cupped as they are in members of Warrea. Pollination of Warreella patula has not been studied. However, it is likely that it fits into the fragrancecollecting male euglossine bee syndrome.

The flower of the Pink Wood Nymph has pale pink to dark purple· pink, spreading sepals and petals that are similarly broadly lanceolate, the latter often da rker. The lip is white and reflexed with a broad, da rk-pink border. The column is w hite with a yellow base.

Acrual size

393

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NAnVE RANGE HABITAT

TYPE AND PlACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

E:pidendroideae Cymbidieae, Zygopemlinae Norchern Peru to Bolivia and eastern Braz.il Mountain slopes and ridges with shrubs and rocks, sometimes on roadside banks, ac 3,300-8,200 ft (1,000- 2,500 m) Terres[ria) in wet., mossy sjces among rocks

Wid acid oak-pine forescs and along stream ban~ at sea level to 2,625 ft (800 m) Terrestrial in humu$-riCh soil Not listed as nationally endangered, but is endangered in some states (for exa~p~e, New Yo rk)

FLOWERING TIME

june to Septembe r (swnmcr to early fall)

FLOWER SIZE ~in (1.3 em)

PLANT SIZE

4 26 in (l0 66cm); dtere arc no leaves at the time of flowering

TIPULARIA DISCOLOR

CRANE FLY ORCHID (PURSB) NUTTALL, 1818

408

In September, the underground tubers of the Crane Fly Orchid produce a solitary, often-spotted broad leaf that is purple below. The leaf persists through the winter and disappears in spring as the trees start to leaf out. In the summer, an upright, redstemmed inflorescence produces up to 40 flowers. The flowers are pollinated by the Armyworm Moth, Pseudaletia unipuncta, which probes the long nectar spur for the nectar produced by the blooms and picks up the pollen masses on its eyes. The column is slightly twisted to the left or right, such that the pollinia are deposited on only one eye. The common and scientific names refer to the general resemblance of the flower to a crane fly (genus Tipula). The tubers were harvested at the time of flowering and consw11edby Native Americans as a food .

The flower of the Cran e Fly Orchid has spreading, greenish-tan to greenish -red sepals and similar but smal ler petals. The lip is greenish -white and three-lobed-the sidelobes are shorter and embrace the column, and the midd le lobe is elongate with a basal open ing leading to the long nectar spur.

EPIO EN ORO! OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Calypsoinoe Patdty disuibution in moumainsin temperate Asia: Assam~ Chi1la (northern Fuji an ar)d jiangxi provinces),easternTaiwan, and Japan Bamboo and coniferous forests, at 5,900--6,600 ft (1,800-2,000 m) Terrestrial Not formally assessed j une to j uly (summer)

FLOWER SIZE

1Yz in(4cm) PLANT SIZE

YOANIA JAPONICA

DEMON QUELLER MAXIMOWICZ, 1873

The spectacular leafless Demon Queller has an underground fles hy, branched, tubercu late r hizome, which p roduces an upright inflorescence with 3 to 12long -stalked flowers . The branching and scaly rhizome lives in exclusive association with a fungus, from which it gets all its minerals and sugars. The genus name is in honor of Udagawa Yoan ( 1798- 1846), a Japanese physician and botanical ar tist. In Japan, the common name is Sholci-ran, the orchid of Shoki, a character from Taoist mythology, who vanquishes malevolent demons and other evil beings and protects the emperor. T his orchid appears from nowhere in deep, dark forests and, with its beautiful flowers, is said to chase dark and evil forces away. Pollination has not been studied, but the flower's bright color and the complex lip shape with a nectar spur suggest that a bee would be involved.

The flower of the Demon Queller has spread ing, red-veined. rounded pink sepals and forward-pointing petals that cover the column and lip. The white to cream lip is sacca te. with a blun t, forward -projecting spur and a recurving, yellow upper margin that has some dark brown spots.

5-8in ( 13- 20 cm),

justa leafless cluster of flowers and a pinkish-brown stem, sometimes covered by leaflitterwiclt only the Bowers revealed

409

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, laeliinae Serra do Sincora, Chapada Diamantina region, Bahia state, Brazil Montane forcsts,at2,950-4,600 ft (900- 1,400 m) Epiphyte in s"nny p laces Not assessed, hue rare and highly restricced

December co February (summer/wee season)

FLOWER SIZE

l l~ in(3cm)

PLANT SIZE

3~

6X y.,_l~~ in 2-3cm),

ADAMANTINIA M/LTON/0/DES

(9-15 x

exc l udir)glnflorescer~ ce

DIAMANTINA ORCHID VAN DEN DERG & C. N. GONthem SUBFAMILY

TRIBE ANOSUBTRIBE

CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Nor asseSSophyti c Not threatened Spring

FLOWER SIZE

lY.in(3cm) PLANT SIZE

2-3 X I in

0/NEMA POLYBULBON

(~x

424

2.5cm), excluding shor~ single-Ao"•ered terminal inAorescence l-2 in (2.5-5 em) long

STRING OF BEADS (SWARTI) LINDLEY, 1831

The String of Beads is a diminutive rambling plant, with peasized, glossy pseudobulbs strung along a creeping stem (hence its common name). The plants grow quickly, often forming a dense, exuberant mat in a short time. One to three leaves crown the apex of each miniature stem, and in spring most of the newest growths produce short apical inflorescences, emerging from a tiny sheath or spathe, each bearing a single flower that emits a strong, delicious honey-like fragrance. The genus name refers to the two thin erect column wings, from the Greek, di, "double," and nema, "thread." Highly adaptable, the species occurs in habitats that vary from steamy lowland jungles to cooler, higher-elevation cloud forest The flower of the String of Beads has narrow sepals and petals of a golden brown color with lighter margins and tips. The broader lip is pure white, and the column and tiny sidelobes of the Iip are flushed with purple.

conditions. Pollination has not been studied, but the sweetly fragrant flowers most likely attract small bees. No reward appears to be offered.

Actual size

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Laeliinae

Cuba, Hai[i, Dominican Republic, and Pueno Rico Seasonally

dry, deciduous forests, at 330-2,625 ft (1~00 m)

Epiphy te

Nor clueatened Spring

FLOWER SIZE

I Y.in(3cm) PLANT SIZE

DOMINGOA HAEMATOCHILA

BLOODY-LIPPED ORCHID (REICHENBACJI FILS) CARABIA, 190

4-8 X 1- 1V.in (10-20 x 2.5-3.8 em), excluding archir)g or pe11dent [ermitlal inAorescence

4-8in( 10 20cm)1ong

A small group of charming epiphytes native to the Caribbean and central Mexico, Domingoa derives its name from Santo Domingo, on the island of Hispaniola, where it was first discovered. Domingoa haematochila, with its leathery, lanceolate leaves, is well adapted for the hot and dry desettlike conditions to which it is often exposed. Plants on Mona Island (Puerto Rico) often experience temperatures well above 100°F (38°C).

Acrual size

The darkly hued flowers, proportionately large for the size of the plant, appear in succession over a long period and have an intense fragrance. Pollinators are bees seeking nectar, which is absent. The bees force their way into the small space between the lip and column, where their thorax breaks open an apical chamber, releasing glue to which the pollen masses (pollinia) then adhere.

The flower of t he Bloody-l ipped Orchid has yellow to olive petals and sepals, ofte n rimmed >J nrl finP.Iy stripP.rl with hloorl-rP.rl. Although th P.

sepals are spread widely, the petals cover the colu mn. The flattened lip is boldly blood-red.

4 25

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, laeliinae Central and soucltwestern Mexico Dry oak and pine-oak forestS, at 3,300--6,600 ft (1,000-2,000 m) Epiphytic Not assessed April to June (spring to early summer)

FLOWER SIZE

3in(8cm) PLANT SIZE 12- 20 X 10- 15 in

(3l}-51

426

X

25-38),

excluding tenninal erecr-arching inflorescence 2';-35in(64 S9cm)long

ENCYCLIA ADENOCAULA

LITTLE PURPLE DREIDEL (LEXARZA) SCHLECHTER, 1918

The Little Purple Dreidel (in Spanish, trompillo morado, "purple nig hts hade") is a striking and fragrant species that produces from the apex of pseudo bulbs large branched inflorescences of bright, beautiful, clustered flowers that appear to dance in the breeze. The genus name comes from the Greek for" encircling,"

enlcyklein, a reference to the lip that wraps around the column. T he species name refers to the prominent but small warty growths on the inflorescence, from the Greek aden, "gland," and caulo, "stem." The common name is probably a reference to the cone-like pseudobulbs, which resemble the shape of a spinning top (or dreidel) used in a Jewish gambling game. Pollination of the colorful and fragrant flowe rs in genus

Enty cliu is assw11ed to be by bees, although no reward is offered. Despite the abundance and showiness of the blooms, however, no pollination studies have been published.

The f lower of the Little Pu rple Drei del has narrowly lanceolate, rich pink to purple petals and sepals. These produce a star shape around the similarly colored colum n and trilobed lip, which has darker nectar guides and a white base, with the basal lobes surrounding the colu mn.

EPIO EN OROI OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Laeliinae

From Mexico throughout Central America co Panama Tropical, semi-deciduous and oak forests, at 330--3,300 ft ( 100-1,000 m) Epiphytic

Not assessed j une tO August (summer)

FLOWER SIZE

2 in(Scm) PLANT SIZE

ENCYCLIA ALATA

BUTTERFLY ORCHID (BATEMAN) SCHLECHTER, 19H

15- 25 X

12- 22 in

( 38-64 x 30-56 em),

excluding tenninal erectarching intlorescen,ce 12-80 in (30 203 em} long

The Butterfly Orchid produces tight clusters of ovoid, cone-shaped pseudobulbs carrying between one and three apical, linear-lanceolate leaves that can be darkly pigmented_ Over its large range, the plant varies considerably in shape and flower color_The common name comes from the honeylike fragrance , which attracts bu tterflies, although not as pollinators_ The species name is Latin for "winged," probably referring to the lateral lobes of the lip, which make the column appear to be wingedPollination has not been studied in this or any related species, but the shape, color, and sweet fragrance suggest some sort of bee- In cultivation in the Philippines, the plant is reported to be visited by bees_ General floral features, including nectar guides, function to attract and orient pollinators despite no nectar being present-

The flower of the Butterfly Orchid has spoon-shaped sepals and petals that are greenish to chestnut-brown, paler basally. The cream to yellow lip has three lobesthe middle lobe is t he largest, with reddishpurple vei ns, and the sidelobes f lare widely and surround the yellow colu m n.

Actual size

427

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, l aeliinae Mexico, Guatemala~ Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, French Cuiana,Surinam, Cuyarta, Venewela, and Colombia Lower elevation, seasonally d ry forests, at 330-1,640 ft (100-500 m) Epiphytic, occasionally lirltophytic Threatened byovercollecrion l atcspring tosurnmcr

FLOWER SIZE

3\'z in(9 cm) PLANT SIZE

16- 30 X 10- 18 in (41-76 x 2~ cm), excluding erect,

428

ENCYCLIA CORDIGERA

FLOWER OF THE INCARNATION

Jet·minal inftorescence, 20 32 in (51 81 em) tall

(KUNTH) DRESSLER, 1964

The sturdy, vigorous Flower of the Incarnation is extremely variable in flower color, with many lovely forms found in nature. Flower spikes emerge from an apex ofglossy, large ovoid pseudobulbs, each bearing a pair of leathery leaves. The erect spikes hold usually between six and twelve large, highly fragrant flowers well above the foliage, making a superb show. The genus name is based on the Greek word enkyklein, "encircle," referring to the lip, which is partially fused to and wraps around the column. The common name is simply a reference to the "incarnate" beauty of the flowers.

Encyclia cordigera is a mostly lowland species from seasonally dry areas, where it can form huge clusters of massive pseudobulbs. Large bees, especially carpenter bees, pollinate the plants, seeking nectar, which is never present.

The Flower of the Incarnation is variable in color but generally has brownish to olive petals and sepals, though purplish in som e forms. The broad, flaring lip is often of a rich pink, rose, or pu rple, and sometimes wh ite with a purple blotch at the center.

Act\Jal size

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Laeliinae Florida and the Bahamas

Hammocks along river~ cypress swamps, oak forests, mangroves, fro m sea level w about80 fr(25 m)

TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epiphyric, o n live oaks o r orher evergreen trees

Locally common, but "11d collecting is prohibited j une to September(summer)

FLOWER SIZE l ~in(4 cm)

PLANT SIZE

ENCYCLIA TAMPENSIS

FLORIDA BUTTERFLY ORCHID (UNOL£Y) SMALL,I913

The Florida Butterfly Orchid forms a tight cluster of ovoid pseudobulbs, each with a single narrow leaf. In some cases, there is a second leaf or a leaf-bearing bract at the base of the pseudobulb. Mature plants produce a much-branched panicle with 6 to 25 sweetly scented flowers. The genus name comes from the Greek for "encircle" (enkyklein) , in reference to the lip that wraps around the column in these species. Although the orchid can be locally abundant in many parts of Florida, it is a protected species, and collecting is prohibited. It is also not necessary to take these orchids from the wild as many commercial growers sell plants grown from seed, produced by crossing particularly attractive wild-occurring forms. Despite its common name, the species is reportedly pollinated by small bees attracted to its sweetly fragrant flowers, rather than butterflies.

The flower of the Florida B utterfly Orchid has sim ilar, spreading, greenish-brown petals and sepals. The lip is white with a central purple blotch and tri lobed, with the sidelobes enveloping the column and the basal lobe projecting forward.

10- 18 X 8-16 in (25-46 x 20-41em),

excludif'lg inflorescence, vlhicll is erec1and 20 3()in(51 ·76 cm) lo ng

429

EPIOEN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE

HABITAT

TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, laeliinae Tropical America., from Mexico and the Caribbean to Peru and 13rat il We[ or semi-deciduous seasonally dry forests, at sea level co 3,300 ft (1 ,000 m) Epiphytic and sometimes lithophytic on bare rocks No• assessed, bm 1he species is widespread and locally common so not o f oonselvation concern

FLOWERING TIME

April to Dccembcr (winte rto early spring)

FLOWER SIZE

5 in ( l3cm) PlANT SIZE

21)..32 x 6-.8 in (5l ~H x 15-20 em), excluding erect-arching inflorescence

4 30

EPIDENDRUM CILIARE

CATTLE EGRET ORCHID LINNAEUS, 1759

8 12in(21)..30cm) long, which generally exceeds the leaf

The Cattle Egret Orchid has large ovoid pseudobulbs covered with overlapping papery sheaths, each topped by one or two elliptic, blunt, leathery leaves. T he infl orescence appears at the top of a newly maturing pseudobulb, carrying 4-12 highly perfumed flowers in two rows. The pseudobulbs are similar to those found in members of t he genus Cattleya , but this orchid belongs to the more th an I,500 species in the megagenus Epidendrum, established by Linnaeus in 1759 for all epiphytic orchids, most of which were later transferred to other genera. T he genus name is simp!y derived from the Greek words epi- , The flower of the Cattle Egret Orchid has greenish, narrow petals and sepals, the upper sepal rolled inward and the petals arching forward. The column and lip are white and form a short, fused tube with the lip apex split into three fea thery lobes.

"on," and dendron, "tree." T he plant is called garcita ("cattle egret") in Spanish, which reflects its common English name. Pollination is carried out by night-flying hawk moths. They probe the nectary that is buried deeply in the flower stem.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Laeliinae Nonhern Soucl1 America (Colombia to nonhern Brazil) and Trinidad Open slopes, rock faces, and disrurbed sites such as •·oadsides Ten estrial or lithophytic Not assessed, but widespread and locally common Throughout the year

FLOWER SIZE

I in (2.Scm) PLANT SIZE

EPIDENDRUM IBAGUENSE

CRUCIFIX ORCHID

24- 50 X 6-10 in (61-127 x 1S-25 cm), including terminal erecl inflorescence

KUNTII, 1816

43 1

The highly variable Crucifix Orchid has pencil-thick, reedlike stems supported by white fleshy roots. T he stems lack any swelling as typically seen with the pseudo bulbs that are present in some other species ofEpidendrum, such as£. ciliare. Terminal, simple, or occasionally branched racemes emerge at any time of the year and have a cluster of flowers at the tip that open over long periods. Flowering stems often produce keikis (plantlets), which can form another plant when a stem falls over. T he common name was given by the missionaries in Ibague, Colombia, who first encountered this species, as its upright lip resembles a cross. The Ibague area is also responsible for the species name, although the orchid is much more widely distributed. Pollination is by butterflies that mistake these nectarless plants for similarly colored milkweeds (Asclepias) and Lantana species.

The flower of the Crucifix Orchid can be orange-red to pinkish-purple (rarely wh ite) and bears its lip upright, with lanceolate, spreadi ng sepals and petals. The colum n is fused with the lip to form a tube. The lip is three-lobed, with all lobes about the same size and the margins irregularly fri nged.

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, laeliinae Southwestern Mexico (Guerrero, ]alisco, Oaxaca smtes), along the Pacillc coast Pine-oak foresrs, ar 4,920-5,600 fr(1,500-1,700 m) Epiphytic Not assessed June tOAugust (summer)

FLOWER SIZE

lY.in(3cm) PLANT SIZE

432

8- 15 X 5-8 in (20-38 x 13--20 em), excluding t11e nodding to pendeor in.Aorescence 5-8 in (1:>-20cm) long

EPIDENDRUM MARMORATUM

MARBLED ORCHID A. RICHARD & GAELOTTI, 1845

The Marbled Orchid has stout, cylindrical pseudobulbs and reddish stems bearing several leathery pairs of terminal leaves. It produces a terminal, downward arching, densely flowered raceme with many beautiful flowers. T he genus dates back to Carl Linnaeus (1707- 78), who used it initially for all the epip hytic orchids he encountered. The name refers to the fact Acrual size

that these plants grow on trees (Greek epi, "on," plus dendron, "tree"). The genusEpidendrum is one of the largest in the orchid fam ily with more than 1,500 species. Pollination has not been reported , but most species of the genus are pollinated by butterflies or moths. There is a central nectar spur formed by the fused lip and column, into which the tongue of a pollinator would be inserted.

The flower of the Marbl ed Orchid has w hite and red striped, spreading peta Is and sepa Is. The white lip also has red markings near its ma rgins, with seven to nine prominent ridges. It forms a short tube with the colum n.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Laeliinae Ecuador Cloud forests, at 4,920-8,200 ft ( 1,500-2,500 m) Epiphytic Nor clueatened Mosdy summer bm can bloom anytime

FLOWER SIZE

2¥.-4 in (7-10cm) PLANT SIZE 10- 16 X 4-6 in

EPIDENDRUM MEDUSAE

(25-41 x 10-15cm),

MEDUSA-HEAD ORCHID

excludir)g sho rt~ pendenl terminal inflorescence, which is slightly longer dmn the stems, 2-3in (5-8 em) long

(REICHENBACII FILS) PFITIER, 1889

The pendent Medusa-head 0 rchid resides in the cooler reaches ofEcuadorian cloud forests, its fleshy chain-like foliage hanging gracefully in virtually constant moist conditions from mossy, shady branches. The bizarre flowers, usually borne one to three at a time on short, terminal inflorescences, are variable but often have a ruby-garnet to maroon coloration with a remarkable, raggedly fringed lip, which, likened to the snake-haired head of the monster Medusa from Greek mythology, gives the plant its scientific and common name. In this species, the lip is extensively fused to the column, as is typical for nearly all species of Epidendrum, and the apex of the column has a narrow slit suited to the tongue of a butterfly or moth, which are frequently found to be the pollinators of Epidendrum. It seems likely that these flowers are adapted for moths due to their dull color.

The flower of the Medusa-head Orchid ca n be variable but generally bears yellow to ol ive segments overlaid with a flush of maroon. The broad, oval lip is sometimes green ish but often deep dark red or maroon and ringed with a distinctive fri nge. Acrual size

433

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PlACEMENT

CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

I

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, laeliinae Mexioo through Central America co Colombia and northern Venewela Wee pine and cloud forests, ar I ,300-5,900 fr (400-1,800 m) Epiphytic on cree trunks, where it forms mats Wid %in (8- 10 x l- 1.5cm), excluding i nUore~>ctn ce 3-4 in (8--IOcm) long

LEPANTHOPSIS PRISTIS

SAWFISH ORCHID lUER & 1\. ESCOBAR, 1986

466

The genus name derives from its vegetative sim ilarity to

Leparuhes. Both sets ofspecies have no pseudobulbs, but instead Ac1ual :,.i1.e

their leafy growths have delicate stems (ramicauls) characterized by a covering of funnel-shaped bracts, termed lepanthiform sheaths. The flowers of the two genera are different, with the blooms ofLepandwpsispristis arranged in an orderly fashion on two sides of the stem, giving them the appearance of the toothy beak of a sawfish (pristis is Greek for "sawfish"). T he Sawfish Orchid bears 20-30 flowers at once on a single inflorescence that emerges from the apex of the stem at the base of the leaf. L ittle is known about poll ination, but it has been suggested that aphids are the pollinators. However, aphid

The flower of the Sawfish Orchid is transl ucent green or tan with broadly lanceola te, basally fused sepal~ollectively sligh tly cuppedtiny, half-round petals, and a green, triangular lip. The colum n is short and has two broad sidelobes.

behavior (as sedentary sucking insects) suggests that they would not b e effective in this ro le. More likely, some sort of fly is involved.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Pleurothallidinae Cosm Rica Humid forests, at4,920-5,900 ft (1,500- 1,800 m) Epiphytic

Nor formally assessed January to February Qote winter to early spring)

FLOWER SIZE

I in (2.5cm) PLANT SIZE

4-7 X% I in

MASDEVALLIA CHASE/

(10- J8x J.~2.5cm), including basal

MONTEVERDE YELLOW NYMPH

inflorescence, which is shorter than che leaves

LU£1\, 1980

The Monteverde Yellow Nymph forms clusters of stems, each enveloped by basal tubular sheaths and producing a single, upright, leathery, obovate leaf. From the base of each leaf, a slender, erect to arching inflorescence with a single flower is produced; occasionally a second occurs. T he species is still known only from the original location just outside the

Acrual size

Monteverde Cloud Forest Heserve in Costa Hica. The Heserve is famous for the large number oforchid species recorded there (more than 500 so far). Masdevallia chasei is named for Professor Mark W. Chase,

who-together with Dr. Kerry Walter--5 x I in (8-13 x 2.5 em), including single-flowered short erec{ i1tflorescences 1- i in (1.5-5 em) long

MASDEVALLIA HERRADURAE

HIDDEN SPIDER ORCHID F. LEHMANN & KRAENZLIN, 1899

468

The Hidden Spider Orchid has narr ow, almost linear, glossy, highly succulent leaves broadening slightly midway through their length. The long-tailed, eye-catching flowers, which emit a str ong odor reminiscent of ripe (nearly rotting) coconut, are prod uced low in the foliage. The common name refers to the fact that the spidery flowers are almost completely hidden by the leaves. The genus Masdevallia is large and distributed throughout the American tropics, particularly at higher elevations, and, with few exceptions, these species are pollinated by flies. In this plant, the fl ies are looking for the rotting fr uit that its fragrance seems to indicate is present. In their search, one of the flies passes the balance point of the hinged lip and is thr own into the column, which results in the pollen masses becoming attached insect's back.

The flower of the Hidden Spider Orchid can vary in color but is most often maroon red. It is usually waxy, with each sepal bearing a long ta il, usually fad ing to yellow at the tip. Short, pale yellow petals and lip surround the column.

to

the

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Pleurothallidinae Peru, only known from Machu Picchu Cloud foresiS, open rocky sites, ar 6,600-13,100 ft (2,0~,000 m) Mostly terrestrial, sometimes litl>ophytic, rarely epiphytic Threatened by collection forhorticulrure September December(springand early summer)

FLOWER SIZE

8 in(20cm) PLANT SIZE

6 10 X Y.- 1V. in

MASDEVALLIA VEITCH/ANA

(15-25 x 1.9-3,2 em), excluding the erect, single-tlo'9.'ered inflorescence, 10-20 in (25-5 1em) mil

VEITCH'S MARVEL REICHENBACH FILS, 1868

A renowned species from the area surrounding the archaeological site at Machu P icchu, the stunning Veitch's Marvel bears a shockingly vib rant flower produced on sturdy erect stems and held well above the foliage. Often growing in full sun, the leaves are protected from sunburn by surrounding grasses. T he flower color sometimes appears uneven or asymmetrical because iridescent purple hairs cover the blooms, creating a dazzling surface sheen. The plant was named for the Veitch Nurseries, based in Devon and London, which in the nineteenth century were the largest family-based nurseries in Europe, introducing many new orchid species into cultivation. Pollination of Masdevallia veitchiana has never been studied. However, at the elevations at which the plant grows, the pollinator is likely to be a bee or hummingbird, although the lack of nectar probably precludes the latter.

The flower of Veitch's Marvel has brilliant orange sepals fused at their bases to produce an elongate, triangular f lower outline. The surface is covered with light-ca tching purple hairs, often prod ucing a shim mering gleam. Petals and lip are darker and much reduced, and form a tube arou nd the column.

AcruaJ size

469

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Pleuroclmllidinae Colombia and Venezuela Wet oool forests, at 6,600-1l,200 ft (2,000-2,500 m) Epiphytic Not threatened Winter to spring

FLOWER SIZE

Y.-1 in (2-2.5 em) PLANT SIZE

4- x I in (10-15 x 2.5cm),

470

including short intlorescence %- 1 in ( 1.3-2.5 em) long

MYOXANTHUS HYSTRIX

SPINY-MOUSE ORCHID (REICHENBACH FILS) LUER, 1982

The Spiny-mouse Orchid grows in upper elevation cloud forests, where it blooms through a large part of the year, producing a new flower once the old one withers. The stems are noteworthy for their strong bristles- the feature to which the species name refers, from the Latin word for porcupine, Actual size

hystrix. T he genus name is an obscure reference to the G reek

words myoxos, "dormouse," and anthos, "flower." The small, oddly colored and shaped flowers have antenna] knobs on the petals, which bear scent-producing glands. Like the flowers of nearly all members of the sub tribe Pleurothallidinae, these are most likely pollinated by a fly, which lands on the leaf before crawling onto the bloom. The flower has a hinged lip that would at some point tip the fly against the column, causing removal of the pollen as the insect struggles to free itself. No reward is offered.

The flower of the Spiny-mouse Orchid has pale greenish-yellow sepals striped with dark mahogany brown. The petals are triangular and similar in color but spotted with a yellow knob at their tip. The lip is m ostly reddishbrown, cu rled, and hinged.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Epidendreae, Pleurothallidinae Higl~ ands of the Dominican Republic (Hispaniola) Cloud forests, at 3,300-4,600 ft ( 1,000-1,400 m) Epiphytic o n twigs of shrubs

Nor clueatened Spring and summer

FLOWER SIZE 2-2)(. in (~ em) PLANT SIZE

NEOCOGNIAUXIA HEXAPTERA

SCARLET CLOUD ORCHID (COGN!AUX) SCHLECHTER, 1913

4 ~ X 2-3 in ( 10-20 x S-8 em), excluding terminal) erect-arching inflorescence, which is generally longer than the leaves, 5--12 in (13-30cm) long

With its intense colors and rounded flower, the spectacular Scarlet C loud O rc hid, endemic to the cloud forests of the D ominican Republic, is one of the most sought-after Caribbean species, despite its difficulties in cultivation. The species, a twig epiphyte, often g rows low down on lichen-encrusted shrubs. Its pollinia, like those of other bird-pollinated orchids, are darkly colored, making them less noticeable to the bird and therefore less likely to be scraped off before being deposited on another plant. No nectar has been repo rted, so this is a case of deceit pollination. T he genus is named for Alfred Cogniaux (1841- 1916), who is famous for his taxonomic treatments of the orchids of Brazil and the West Indies. The species name is derived from the G reek words hex, "six," andpterus, "winged," preswnably in reference to the six-parted flower.

The flower of the Scarlet Cloud Orchid is brilliant orange red, w ith broad, rounded sepa ls and petals. The lip is yellow with sidelobes folded around the column, which is purple red at its apex.

47 1

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE Epidendroideae

SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendreae, Pleuroclmllidinae Central and Souclt America: Nicaragua, Trinidad, and Colombia to Bolivia and southern Orazil Wee foresrs, ar330-S,200 fr (100--2.500 m) Epiphytic Wid-4in

ADENONCOS VESICULOSA

BLISTER ORCHID CARR.I9J2

(10-20 x 4-lOcm), excluding short inflorescence 1- 1% in (2.5-:i.Scm) long

545

T he short, stout stem of the Blister Orchid carries swollen, linear, folded leaves and produces a short, axillary inflorescence with one or two flowers. The plant is vegetatively similar to, and often grows together with, orchids of the genus Microsaccus, but the leaves of the latter are not as flattened. The genus name comes from the Greek words aden, fo r "gland," and onkos, for "mass," referring to the callus on the base of the lip. The common name refers also to the lip callus, which resembles a watery blister. T he papillose, fleshy keel of the lip is reported as being eaten, so it could provide food for pollinating insects. Whether this is a regular part of pollination or just a coincidence is unproven. There is no nectar spur or cavity, so what would attract an insect to these small, pale flowers is unclear.

The flower of the Blister Orchid has narrow, spreading, gree nish-w hite sepals and narrower, spreading petals. The broad lip is greenish-white, papillose, keeled, and cupped, lacking sidelobes but with a thickened, bl isterlike callus at the base.

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Aeridinae Himalayas to Indochina (India and Nepal to Vietnam) Deciduous to scmi-dociduous forests, from sCi! level to

3,600fr(l,100m) TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS

Epiphytic Not threatened, but ltC-35 in (51-178 x 64-89 em), including axillary int\orescellce 10- 20 in (25 51 em) long

599

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVERANGE HABITAT TYPE ANO PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Vandeae. Aeridinae China (Yunnan and Guangxi provinces) through Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia Evet·green to semi-deciduous forestS, usually on rock-y outcrops, at 985-3,600 ft (30~1 100m) Terrestrial litl•ophytic Not assessed, but threatened insomepartsofits range by collection for horticulrure April to july (spring to summer)

FLOWER SIZE

3in(8cm) PLANT SIZE

12 40 X 12 25in (30-102 x 3~4 em), lncludingarching

VANDOPSIS GIGANTEA

PORPOISE-HEAD ORCHID

intlorescen.ce

600

(LINDLEY)PFITZER, 1889

15-25 in (38-Q4 em) long

The Porpoise-head Orchid can form massive plants, with a long stem clothed by two ranks of tough, strap-shaped leaves. T he inflorescence is produced from the base of a leaf and can have up The flower of the Porpoise-head Orchid has outstretched, broadly ovate sepals and petals. The lip is tri lobed, with the sidelobes encircling the base of the col umn. A callus sits in the m iddle of the three lobes. Flower color is generally yellow to cream with brown-red to purple spotting on a II parts.

to 20 flowers. The size of the plants bestows the species name, while the genus name refers to the similarity of the member species to the genus Vanda. T he common name refers to the shape of the column, which resembles the head of a porpoise with two purple spots for its eyes. As in other species of this tribe, pollination is likely to be by large bees, most likely carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa). The flowers have a faintly sweet fragrance during the daytime, and bees could mistake the empty chamber on the base of the lip as a nectar cavity.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Aeridinae Himalayas to nonhern Myanmar and China (Yunnan province) Tnmks of pine and oak trCin (1.25 em) PLANT SIZE

6 IOx8 14in

ANGRAECUM CADET/I

(15-25 x 20-36cm).

CRICKET ORCHID

excluding arching-pendent inflorescences }-8 in (8- 20 em) long

BOSSER, 1988

The lovely little Cricket Orchid has a short stem completely clothed in overlapping, clasping leaves, forming a fan. It attaches to mossy branches by wiry roots. T he name of the genus comes from the Indonesian word for orchid, anggrek, but the species of Angraecum are found only in Africa, Madagascar, and the Mascarene Islands. This is the only species known to be pollinated by a cricket, filmed in the act at night on the island of Reunion with infrared cameras. Normally crickets eat flowers (and other plant parts), but here juvenile crickets drink nectar produced in the sacklike spur and the pollinia become attached to their heads. The cricket involved also turned out to be a species unknown to science and was named Glomeremus orchidophilus (which means orchidloving cricket).

The flower of the Cricket Orchid is pa le green when it first opens and cup-shaped, with the pointed sepals and petals projecting forward and the lip form ing a sacklike, nectar-filled spu r. As the flowers age, they become wh iter. Actual siie

607

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Angraecinae Madagascar Rain foresrs, ttl up tO 330ft (100m) Epiphytic and lithophytic 1'hreatened by poaching fall to spring

FLOWER SIZE 6--jl in (IS-20cm)

PLANT SIZE

608

18- 36 X 24-40 in (~9 1 x 61- 102cm), lncludingarching inflorescences 15- 18 in (38-46 em) mil

ANGRAECUM SESQUIPEDALE

COMET ORCHID T HOUARS, 1822

The remarkable Comet Orchid bears one of the most extraordinary flowers of any plant. The species epithet, from the Latin words sesqui, meaning" one and a half," and pedalis, for "foot," refers to the prodigious length of the nectary at the back of the flower. The large fan-shaped plants, with thick, coarse ae1i al roots, grow epiphytically on larger tree branches near sea level. T he genus name comes from the Indonesian word for orchid, anggrek. When Charles Darwin observed the structure of these flowers in

1862, he hypothesized the existence ofa then undescribed moth species with a proboscis long enough to reach the full length of the nectar spur, up to 12 in (30 em). D arwin was vindicated decades later ( 1903) when just such a moth was d iscovered in Madagascar, Xanthopan morgana. Actual pollination has not, however, been observed.

The flower of the Com et Orchid is star-shaped and pure glistening white, with a triangular Iip. When they first open, the flowers have a green ish tinge. The most noticeable feature is the exceptionally long nectar spur, in which nectar can often be observed in the bottom portion.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE

NATIVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Angraecinae Madagascar, Comoro~ Reunion, and Mauritius Coastal and humid, cvergrt"en forests, at 1,3~,200 ft (400-1,900 m) Epiphytic Not fo rmerly assessed and not threatened in Reunion, but

critically endangered and declining in Ma1.nitius FLOWERING TIME

December(summer)

FLOWER SIZE

I \1 in (3.8 em) PLANT SIZE

BECLARDIA MACROSTACHYA

WHITE-EYE ORCHID (THOUARS) A. RICHARD, 1828

6 15 X 7- 12 in (15--38 x 1~30cm), excludingerect-archi1tg inflorescence 8 15in(20 38cm) long

The White-eye Orchid has a short stem carrying up to a dozen linear-oblong leaves and produces a raceme partially enveloped by bracts with up tO 12 strongly seemed flowers. T he genus name is in honor of Pierre Auguste Beclard (1785-1825), a French anatomist and surgeon who was also interested in orchids and other plants. The species name derives from the Greek words makros, "large," and stachys, "spike," referring to the long, pointed leaves. T he white, spurred flowe rs are typically pollinated by nightflying hawk moths. In Reunion, however, it has been reported that two birds, the Olive White-eye (Zosterops olivaceus) and G ray White-eye (Z. borbonicus), v isit the blooms, although they do not appear to be well suited to the shape of the flowers, especially as their short bills cannot easily reach into the long nectar spur.

The flower of the Wh it e-eye Orchid has three simi lar, white, recurved sepals and two broader petals. The white lip wraps around the colum n and is hairy inside with a green center, wavy edges, and broad, often bi lobed apex. It also has a green-tipped spur poin ting backward.

609

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

I

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Angraecinae Tropical America, from soucltern Mexico and dte Antilles to Bolivia Swamps in hor tropical foresrs, fro msea level 10 4,600 fr ( I ,400 m) Loosely anached epiphy high humidity Not assessed but widt a broad distribution ~utd clevational r•ngc, so 11ot likely to be ofconservation concern Spring and fall

FLOWER SIZE ~in (1.3 em)

PLANT SIZE

6- 15 X 3-5 in

(15--38 x 8--13 em), lncludingarchirlg

610

CAMPYLOCENTRUM MICRANTHUM

FAIRY BEN T-SPUR ORCHID

lareral inrlorescen.ces 2-4 in (5 10 em) long

(LINDLEY) ROLFE, 1901

The small, almost vinelike Fairy Bent-spur Orchid has an elongate stem loosely held among the smaller branches by aerial roots. It bears elliptical leaves in two ranks that clasp the stem and has a fleshy inflorescence covered in small floral bracts with minute flowers on two sides of the thickened stem. The genus name comes the Greek words kampylox, "crooked," and

kentron "spur," which is reflected in the common name ("bentspur"). This genus is one of two American genera of the subtribe Angraecinae, the members of which are otherwise found in Africa, Madagascar, and the Mascarene Islands. Pollination by small stingless halictid bees has been reported, Actual size

but in some areas automatic self-pollination takes place. There is nectar present in the relatively long nectar spur, even in those plants in which self-pollination occurs. A sweet scent has also been reported.

The flower of the Fairy Bent-spu r Orchid is white and starl ike, with fused sepals tha t have a spur at the back. Peta ls are sim ilar and also spreading. The lip encloses the colu m n and is similar to the sepals and petals.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Ang raecinae Soucl1ern Florida and Mesoame rica, the Caribbean, and nord~ern

South America HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS

Moist monrane forests, cypresss~·amp~ and we[ hammocks, up 10

4,600 ft (1,400 m) Epiphytic or, rarely, terrestrial Rare in Florida, but not assessed elsewhere; easily overlooked because of small flowers and leaflessness, so may be more common

than assumed FLOWERING TIME

November to February(fall ro earlyspring)

FLOWER SIZE

Y. in (0.6 cm) PLANT SIZE

CAMPYLOCENTRUM PACHYRRHIZUM

LEAFLESS BENT-SPUR ORCHID (REICHENBACII FILS) ROLFE. 1903

The thick, fleshy, green roots of the Leafless Bent-spur Orchid spread widely on tree trunks from a short rhizome out of which a densely flowered spike appears, with small, nearly stalk-less flowers emerging in two rows on either side of the stem. The plant lacks leaves throughout its life; its strongly flattened green roots perform photosynthesis. The species name refers to these thick roots (Greekpachy, "thick," and ri1_a, "root"). The shape of the flower lip and short spur suggest bee pollination, but no observation data are available. The short curving nectar spur projects behind the lip, and it is the curving spur for which the genus is named (Greek for "curved" or "crooked," kampylox, and centron, "spur"). Further study is needed on all aspects of the life of this enigmatic orchid.

The flower of the Leafless Bent-spu r Orchid is smal l with similarly shaped white petals and sepals. The lip forms a small cup around the colum n and a short, curved spur at the back, the opening of the flower almost fi lled by the yellow anther cap.

2- 3 x 2- 3in (~ x ~cm),

includingarcl\ing-pendent

int\orescellce

6 11

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

E:pidendroideae Vandeae, Angraecinae Tropical West Africa, from Liberia to Cameroon Humid forests, at 1,970--6,900 ft (600-2,100 m) Epiphytic Not formally assessed March to May (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

%in(l.8cm) PLANT SIZE

5 9 X 6-12 in (13--23 x J5-30crn), excluding inJtorescer1ce 4- ?in ( lO-IS em) long

CRIBB/A CONFUSA

MUDDLED ORCHID P. J. CRIBB, 1996

612

The short, vertical stems of the Muddled Orchid carry linearoblanceolate, fo lded leaves in two ranks. The leaf tips are unequally bilobed, and the leaves are relatively thick, with leaf bases that clothe the stems. A basal or axillary inflorescence has up to a dozen flowers that are supported by oval, acute-tipped bracts. The genus, named in honor ofKew orchidologist Philip Cribb, a specialist in African and Asian orchids, was originally confused with Cribbia brachyceras, hence the species epithet. It differs from C. brachyceras in having larger, pale greenishorange flowers. Very little is known about the pollination of species in this genus, but the similarity in shape and color to other members of sub tribe Angraecinae, such as Angruecum-in panicular the well-developed nectar spur-would seem to indicate pollination by moths.

Acrualsize

The flower of t he Muddled Orchid has greenish-orange, narrow, pendent latera l sepals, and a spreading upper sepal and petals. The green lip is cupped and heart-shaped at the base, su rrou ndi ng the opening to a nectar spur.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE HABITAT

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Angraecinae Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Reunion Wet, open forests and cloud forests, from sea level up to 2,625 ft (800m)

TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epiphytic on tree trunks, lower branchesofbushes, and sometimes on mossy rocks Near threatened

December to March (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

2\1 in (6.4 em) PLANT SIZE

CRYPTOPUS ELATUS

12- 30 X 8-14 in (30-76 x 20-36 cm),

STATELY MOTH-ORCHID

excluding inflorescence

(PETIT-THOUARS) LINDLEY, 1825

12- 24 in (>0-61 em) long

6 13

The long stem of the Stately Moth-orchid is attached upright by fleshy roots to the tree trunk on which it grows. The roots appear at random from among folded, distantly spaced leaves that clasp the stem and are irregularly bilobed at their tip. From the base of a leaf, a simple or sparsely branched inflorescence grows, canying up to 15 white flowers that turn apricot-orange to reddish in their center witl1 age. The orchids are often not apparent until they bloom, when their showy white flowers on wiry stems attract attention. T he spur, which is 10-12 in (25-30 em) long, does not contain nectar, and the flower lacks a scent. Pollination has not been documented, but floral morphology indicates pollination by long-tongued moths-a case of deceit as the insect gets no reward for its visit.

The flower of the Stately Moth-orchid has narrow, recu rved sepa Is. The wh ite peta Is are fan-shaped and four-lobed at the top with a clawed base. The elaborate white lip is five-lobed, often w ith a yellow to red blotch in the center, and a long, curved spur.

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Angraecinae Sub-Saharan Africa Woodland and riverine forests, at up to 8,200 ft (2,500 m) Epiphytic or li~>ophyti c Not formally assessed but widespread and likely robe of lirde conservation concern March tO May (fall)

FLOWER SIZE

1\>in (3.75 em) PLANT SIZE

8- 15 X 1(}...16 in (2(}...38 x 25-41 em),

excluding pender)\

614

intlorescence &-12in(20 30cm)long

CYRTORCHIS ARCUATA

CURVED ORCHID (LINDLEY) SCHLECHTER, 19H

The Curved Orchid produces an elongate stout stem clothed with persistent, overlapping leaf bases. Among these, aerial roots fo rm, each about~ in (0.7 em) thick, which attach the plant to the branch for support. The apically bilobed leaves are fleshy and form on opposite sides of the stem. In a leaf axil, a raceme emerges and bears I 0- 20 waxy flowers that are sweetly fragrant at night and turn orange once the pollinia are removed.

Aclu.al size

The f lower of the Curved Orch id has linear, recu rved, white to greMish-white sepals, peta ls, and lip, all of the same shape, although the peta ls and lip are somewhat smaller. A long nectar spu r is curved forward and down.

Pollination by moths is the default in flowers of this shape, color, and nocturnal scent. Chrysomelid beetles have been observed as frequent visitors but could not be the effective pollinators given the long length of the nectar spur. An extract of one unspecified species of Cyrtorcltis has been used in the treatment of malaria.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE

HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Ang raecinoe

Soucl1ern Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas Lower elevation rain forests in swmnps

Epiphytic Endangered by poaching, but now specifically protected by low in Florida j uly toSeptember (summerto fall)

FLOWER SIZE

3%--6 in (9-1 5 em) PLANT SIZE

DENDROPHYLAX LINDENII

GHOST ORCHID (UNDLEY) BENTHAM EX 1\0 LFE, 1888

Leafless, [he mass of roots o ft2

The Polonaise Orchid has a short stem and 10- 15 closely set, linear, stiff leaves in two rows. From just above a leaf, it produces a stem with many, densely set flowers in two opposing ranks. The long spike of little delicate flowers resembles noble ladies dancing the polonaise as the petals touch each other as if holding hands. The Latin species name pertusa, meaning "perforated," refers to the deep depression in the lip. The genus name comes from the Latin lustra, "to illuminate," and the Greek stachys, "ear of corn," referring to the way the inflorescence appears to light up with bright flowers. Pollination of this small-flowered species is a mystery. The color, shape, and presence of a relatively long nectar spur suggest hawk moth pollination, but it would have to be an especially small species.

Acrualsize

The flower of the Polonaise Orchid has short sepals and larger, tra nsparent, spread ing petals, both white. The column is enlarged at the top, and the lip has a large, green-edged depression in the midd le. There is a green nectar spur below the flower.

8 15X8 20 in (20-38 x 20-51 em),

excluding lateral, at'dling inflorescence 10- 15 in (25 38 em) long

621

EPIO EN ORO I DEAE SUBFAMILY TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NAnVE RANGE HABITAT TYPE AND PLACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Epidendroideae Vandeae, Angraecinae Kenya to Zimbabwe (tropical East Africa) Wet evergrt"en forests, at 2,62~,200 ft (800-2,500 m) Epiphytic Not assessed, but probably not rJueatened April to May (spring)

FLOWER SIZE

V. in (0.5cm) PLANT SIZE

622

2- 3X 6-10iu (~ x 15-25cm), excluding arching co pendenc in~orescence 4-6in( I0-15cm) long

MICROCOELIA STOLZ/I

YELLOW-CAPPED ORCHID (SCiiLECHTER) SUMMERHAYES, 1943

The Yellow-capped Orchid is generally leafless and carries out photosynthesis in its masses oflong, flattened gray green roots. When actively growing, there may be a small, short-lived bract produced on the erect central stem, but this soon falls off. A single plant can have 50 to 80 roots and up to 15 inflorescences present at a single time. T he genus name is from the Greek words mikros, "small," and koilos, "hollow," referring co the small spur found in the member plants. The species name honors Adolph Stolz (1871- 1917), a German missionary and plant collector in the Tanzanian Highlands.

AcruaJ size

Microcoelia stolr_ii produces masses ofsmall but sweetly fragrant flowers with a relatively long nectar spur, and it is likely to be pollinated by butterflies. Other species in the genus with similar morphology produce fragrance at night, consistent with moth pollination.

The flower of the Yellow-capped Orchi d has simi lar, bright white sepals and petals that form a cup around the lip and colum n. The lip is white and trilobed, the two lateral Jobes surrounding the entrance to the spur, with the m idlobe larger. The column is yellow and the spu r brown -tipped.

EPIO EN ORO I OEAE

-

_ _ _s:...:u;;:; s;,;.; rAMILY

t;pidendro:;ic:...:lea:...:•~------------

-tv'one1eae, A"!C'::>eCinne •

TRIBE AND SUBTRIBE NATIVE RANGE

- -- - - H'-' 'AB:...IT'-A"-T TYPE AND PlACEMENT CONSERVATION STATUS FLOWERING TIME

Southern Africa

Savanna; and Renz, Unh•ersity of Basel.